TIMELINE: The Maguindanao Massacre

TIMELINE: The Maguindanao Massacre

Compiled by MindaNews for the FFFJ-NUJP Fact-Finding Team

Friday, 20 November

First day of filing of certificates of candidacy nationwide.

“When the period of filing of candidacy was opened last 20 November 2009, there were rumors that the Ampatuans will strongly object on (sic) the fielding of candidates from the Mangudadatu side, though there were no solid indicators as to what actions they will be undertaking”

“Information on the plan of the group of Toto Mangudadatu to file his candidacy circulated in Maguindanao”

Philippine National Police sets up six new additional checkpoints (along the 27-kilometer stretch of the GenSan-Cotabato highway (from Datu Sangki at the boundary of Sultan Kudarat, to the crossing of Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan), in relation, purportedly to Oplan Kontra Boga.”

Three of these checkpoints are in Ampatuan town within the vicinity of where the convoy would be stopped three days later.

Checkpoints set up at Barangay (village) Salbu, DSA; Barangay Labu-labu, Shariff Aguak; Barangay Poblacion, Ampatuan; Barangay Masalay, Ampatuan; Crossing Saniag, Barangay Saniag,Ampatuan; and Barangay Poblacion, DSA.

Sunday, 22 November

10 p.m.
Four journalists from South Cotabato and General Santos arrive at the BF Lodge in Tacurong City: Aquiles Zonio of PDI, Joseph Jubelag of Manila Standard Today, Paul Bernaldez, photojournalist of Abante, and Alejandro “Bong” Reblando of Manila Bulletin.

At least eight others, who had been staying there for the Kalimudan festivities which ended Sunday, also spent the night there.

Monday, 23 November

7a.m.
Journalists gather at the residence of Buluan, Maguindanao vice mayor Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu. Target time for jump-off to Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao is 9 a.m. but is delayed due to security concerns (interview with Aquiles Zonio, Jubelag, Bernaldez, 24 Nov).

The Mangudadatus had allegedly sought police and military assistance but were turned down. The military later explained two battalions had just pulled out, and requests for election-related security concerns are to be coursed through either the police or the Comelec, which then makes the request to the military (interview with 601^st Bde chief Col. Medardo Geslani, 24 Nov)

Henry Araneta sends a text message to wife at 6:58 p.m. expressing fear that trouble could erupt. The text message that Henry sent that his wife forwarded read thus:”Ok mang ky ari pa kami sa buloan. May problema kame ayaw magbigay ng body guard ang mga AFP/ bsi mag ka bakbakan ngayon mang.”

9:30 a.m.
Convoy of three vans, Manila Standard Today correspondent Joseph Jubelag’s car and UNTV moves out of Buluan with the UNTV vehicle as lead. En route to Shariff Aguak, Jubelag opts to break away from the convoy for personal (actually, security-related) reasons. Aquiles Zonio who is in the lead vehicle gets out to join Jubelag.  Bernaldez also joins Jubelag (interview with Aquiles Zonio, Jubelag, Bernaldez, 24 Nov).

The breakaway group returns to hotel where Aquiles is told two men on board a motorcycle vehicle had come to ask for the names of journalists who checked in. Hotel personnel say they didn’t give names. Aquiles said they did not give their names upon check in.

Aquiles relates motorcycle-riding men story to Jubelag who sends a text message to Reblando. Reblando sends Jubelag’s message to Aquiles at 9:58 a.m.

On their way back to the house of Mangudadatu, they called on their companions but no one answered.

11 a.m.

Information received states that five (5) civilian vehicles heading toward the Municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, from the Municipality of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, was flagged down by undetermined number of fully armed men at vicinity GC 51NXH 614542 Barangay Masalay, Ampatuan, Mag.  Accordingly, said civilian vehicles together with undetermined number of passengers were taken by the armed men towards vicinity GC 51NXH 590529 Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

11 a.m.

Bde Commander gave instructions to 64IB to conduct operations to rescue the reported abducted persons

1 p.m.

64 IB forces arrived at Barangay. Masalay, Ampatuan, Maguindanao and coordinated with Chief Inspector Dicay of 15th RMG (Dureza identified him as deputy police chief) who were conducting checkpoint thereat. Per conversation with Chief Inspector Dicay, he conveyed that they have no knowledge on the alleged abduction that was reported.

1:30 p.m.
64IB with four armored vehicles advanced east toward Barangay Saniag to conduct rescue operations where the abducted persons were allegedly brought

2:50 p.m.

The troops sighted six (6) vehicles along the trail after traversing approximately three (3) kilometers from the highway at vicinity GC 51N XH 590529 Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Suspecting that these are the vehicles which were missing, troops immediately proceeded to the site.

3:00 pm

Helicopter of Mayor Jhong Mangudadatu lands in sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman.

Twenty-one persons found dead inside and outside vehicles, on the ground. Fifteen females, six males, with multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of their bodies.

Five vehicles were also found in the area as follows: four (4)Toyota Grandia with plate numbers MVM 789, MVM 884, MVM 885 and LGH 247, one (1) Pajero with plate number MCB 335 and one (1) backhoe. Other items that were seen in the site were various personal items, assorted empty shells and other documents.

Troops immediately secured the area to preserve the crime scene prior to the arrival of the PNP SOCO Team for proper investigation.

Note: In a telephone interview with VM Mangudadatu, he said they did not send Mayor Mangudadatu’s helicopter to provide air cover to the convoy because they did not want any provocation and the helicopter providing air support may be mistaken for a provocation.

VM not clear exactly what time helicopter was sent, given that the abduction was at 10 a.m. and the landing of the chopper at crime site was 3 pm.

He said he recalls the chopper was on air for about an hour (?) and had even reached Shariff Aguak before they saw the vehicles in Barangay Salman.

VM says the helicopter hovered until the soldiers arrived. Note in the briefing for Gonzales that the time difference is 10 minutes.

6  p.m

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza proposes declaration of state of emergency and wants everyone in Maguindanao disarmed.

10 p.m.

The PNP SOCO Team under Chief Supt Felicisimo Khu arrives at the crime scene and immediately conducts investigation.

Tuesday, November 24

8 a.m.

A total of 22 bodies found.

By the end of the day, 24 more bodies dug from Gravesite 1, in what ground commander, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu describes as “layered” burial to deceive them. “Bodies, soil, bodies, soil, bodies soil,” he said. He recalls around six layers of bodies/soil.

9 a.m.

Briefing conducted by the military officers for Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Crisis Management Committee in General Santos City.

12 noon

President Arroyo meets with CMC head Dureza, SND, Eastmincom Chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, et al in a teleconference at the brigade.

Nearly 2 pm

Dureza proceeds to Ampatuan Sr.’s mansion in Shariff Aguak. Waits an hour for Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to be presented to him (Attached is Dureza’s account of “The Maguindanao Massacre:The Four Critical Days”, published in Mindanews, www.mindanews.com)

State of Emergency declared over Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City

Evening
Team secures copy of Nov. 24 Powerpoint briefing for Gonzales

Wednesday, November 25

9 a.m.

Fact-Finding Team from Manila arrives in GenSan; proceeds to meeting with Dureza at 601^st Bde in Tacurong City but Dureza decides to have “dialogue” with media instead (meaning, together with other media)

Noon

Team proceeds to massacre site in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Team leaves area around 3 p.m. with six more bodies retrieved. By evening a total of 11 bodies were retrieved that day.

On Nov. 23, the day of the massacre, 21 bodies were recovered.

By morning of Nov 22, one more body, for a new total of 22 bodies
By end of Nov 25, another 24 bodies recovered, for a new total of 46 fatalities.
By end of Nov 26, another 11 bodies recovered for a new total of 57 fatalities.

Team arrives in Koronadal City but only DSWD and PIA staff left behind in Plaza Ramona, venue of Dureza’s meeting with families. Carol’s initial list of victims reconciled with DSWD’s new listing.

The Fact-FindingTeam interviewed ground commander, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu. The residents’ account of the timeline jibed with Khu’s timeline. Like Khu said, the residents said they saw the convoy (the residents counted seven vehicles, Khu said there were six vehicles) enter the area around 10 am.

The residents said they then heard a brief but very intense burst of automatic weapons fire and after a few minutes, saw around 50 armed men crossing the hills in the direction of Shariff Aguak. It was after this that the backhoe entered the area.

Khu’s account was that around half an hour after the convoy was diverted to the massacre site, a trailer brought the backhoe to the highway crossing that leads leading to the site. The backhoe then enters. According to Khu, just before the Army arrived, the prime mover (cab) of the trailer disengaged and fetched the backhoe operator, which accounts for why troops reportedly found the backhoe engine still running.

Also, it was Khu who first confirmed the interception by the troops of two CVO (civilian volunteer organization) members, one armed with an M-16, the other with a shotgun (Khu described it as a major break since only one victim, Bong Reblando, was killed with a shotgun). The two CVOs were reportedly turned over to Ampatuan police OIC SPO4 Badawi Bacal, who turned them over to the vice mayor. The two CVOs had not been heard from since.

This, said Khu, was the reason why he recommended Bacal’s relief. Although later news reports said the two CVOs had been found.

Evening

Team attends candle-lighting rites and rally at roundball, Koronadal

Late evening

TV news announces expulsion of Ampatuan Sr. and Jr. and Ampatuan the ARMM governor, from Lakas-Kampi.

Nearly midnight, Carol receives text message that VM Mangudadatu will proceed to Shariff Aguak the next day to file his COC, to be escorted reportedly by Lakas-Kampi standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro.

Thursday, November 26

8 a.m.

Events to choose from:  VM Mangudadatu proceeding to Shariff Aguak to file COC or  what Dureza’s staff asked us to choose which: possible turnover of Mayor Ampatuan to Dureza at provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak or Dureza turning over Mayor to Justice Devanadera in General Santos City.

Team opts to proceed to Shariff Aguak as the possibility the Ampatuans won’t yield also loomed.

VM Mangudadatu cancels filing for another day.

10 a.m

Dureza’s chopper had not left Tacurong brigade.

11:13 a.m.
Two Hueys arrive, escorted by two MG-520s.

11:42 a.m.

Convoy of Ampatuans enters Maguindanao Provincial Capitol gate from mansion 400 meters away. Tension filled the air. Media-savvy Dureza opts to stay where chopper is. Mayor is accompanied by ARMM Solicitor General Cynthia Guiapal-Sayadi.

11:49 a.m.

Helicopters carrying Dureza, Mayor, etc.. fly to General Santos City for turnover of mayor to Justice Devanadera.

p.m.

Inquest in GenSan delayed as helicopters had to fetch the mayor’s counsel, Siegfried Fortun, from the Cotabato City airport.

Inquest done.  NBI “arrests” mayor.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadeta and suspect Datu Unsay Andal Ampatuan Jr fly to Manila.

Friday, November 27

Gilbert Teodoro escorts VM Mangudadatu to Shariff Aguak to file certificate of candidacy.

Fact-Finding Team meets with DOJ team (Dacera, Calica, etc….)

Dr. Raquel Fortun arrives; arrangements made with Dureza for Dr. Fortun to visit the massacre site next day.

Saturday, November 28

Dr. Fortun goes to massacre site with Ed Lingao and conferred with the first responders.

Dr Fortun and Ed only allowed to view (and photograph) vehicles from a distance, but not to inspect the vehicles.

Other Fact-Finding Team members proceed to Koronadal City to meet with families.

Sunday, November 29

Fact-Finding Team proceeds to Sto.Nino to meet with Henry Araneta’s family, and then to Koronadal’s outskirts for Andy Teodoro, as Atty. Quinsayas assists in final draft of affidavits, at the DOJ meeting place.

Monday, November 30

Carol sends text message to Calica in the morning re arrangements for filing of case in Cotabato City Tuesday. Calica replies he would. He did at nearly 10 p.m. simply to say we must be there by 8 a.m.

Tuesday, December 1

4 a.m.

Davao-based team members proceed to Cotabato City for case-filing

Twenty-five counts of murder filed against Mayor. Subpoena to be issued to eight other Ampatuans to present their counter-affidavits.

OVERVIEW PROFILE OF THE 30 MEDIA WORKERS

KILLED in the MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE, November 23, 2009

(Prepared by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility based on data

gathered by the FFFJ-NUJP Fact-Finding Team)

Based on an interview with one of the three journalists who decided not to join the Mangudadatu convoy to Shariff Aguak, 34 journalists/media practitioners signed up for the coverage event. The Fact-Finding Team has verified that of the total, 30 media workers were killed, while another one remains missing.

Thirty-one of the 57 persons (or 54 percent) killed in the Ampatuan town massacre were media practitioners. (The body of another r journalist is still unaccounted for. A relative said a family’s friend identified the victim’s body at the site but that the family could not find it later at the funeral homes.)

Twenty-seven of the 31 media practitioners (or 87 percent) killed were males. Four were females.

Most of the media practitioners killed were based in General Santos City (14 out of the 31 or 45 percent).

Most of the media practitioners killed (about 22) had children. Sixteen of them were said to be married.

Almost 68 percent (or 22) of the media practitioners killed were working for newspapers and tabloids.

Most of the journalists killed worked for Mindanao-based newspapers (12 newspapers). One victim, Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, worked with a wire agency (stringer of Reuters).