The victims coutesy of wikipedia

Victims

Mangudadatus

Name	Description
Genalyn Tiamson-Mangudadatu	Wife of Esmael Mangudadatu.
Eden Mangudadatu	Municipal Vice Mayor of Mangudadatu,Maguindanao sister of Esmael Mangudadatu.
Rowena Mangudadatu
Manguba Mangudadatu	Aunt of Esmael Mangudadatu.
Faridah Sabdulah
Farida Mangudadatu	Youngest sister of Esmael Mangudadatu.
Farina Mangudadatu	Another sister of Esmael Mangudadatu.
Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela, 56	Lawyer.
Cynthia Oquendo, 36	Lawyer.
Catalino Oquendo	Cynthia Oquendo's father.
Rasul Daud	Driver of Pax Mangudadatu.

Journalists

Thirty-four journalists are known to have been abducted and killed in the massacre, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Only 25 have been positively identified so far.

Name	Description
Alejandro "Bong" Reblando, 53	Manila Bulletin correspondent, a former Associated Press reporter.
Henry Araneta	DZRH Correspondent based in General Santos City
Napoleon “Nap” Salaysay	DZRO manager.
Bartolome “Bart” Maravilla	Bombo Radyo Korondal, South Cotabato.
Jhoy Dojay	Goldstar Daily.
Andy Teodoro	Mindanao Examiner & Central Mindanao Inquirer reporter.
Ian Subang	Mindanao Focus, a General Santos-based weekly community newspaper.
Leah Dalmacio	Mindanao Focus reporter.
Gina Dela Cruz	Mindanao Focus reporter.
Maritess Cablitas	Mindanao Focus reporter.
Neneng Montano	Saksi weekly newspaper reporter.
Victor Nuñez	UNTV reporter.
McDelbert "Macmac" Arriola	UNTV cameraman.
Jolito Evardo	UNTV editor
Daniel Tiamson	UNTV driver
Humberto Mumay	Koronadal-based journalist.
Rey Merisco	Koronadal-based journalist.
Ronnie Perante	Koronadal-based journalist.
Jun Legarta	Koronadal-based journalist.
Val Cachuela	Koronadal-based journalist.
Santos "Jun" Gatchalian	Davao-based journalist.
Joel Parcon	Freelance Journalist.
Noel Decena	Freelance journalist.
John Caniba	Freelance journalist.
Art Betia	Freelance journalist.
Ranie Razon	Freelance journalist.
Archie Cancel	Freelance journalist.
Fernanado "Ferdz" Mendoza	Freelance driver

Red Toyota Vios

Number of casualties: 5. They were supposedly mistaken as part of the convoy.

Name	Description
Eduardo Lechonsito	Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat government employee.
Cecille Lechonsito	Wife of Eduardo Lechonsito.
Mercy Palabrica	Co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito.
Daryll delos Reyes	Co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito.
Wilhelm Palabrica	Driver.
Lester "Amag" Lapuz

Our stand

The recent Maguindanao massacre was very brutal. Around 57 people, including the gubernatorial candidate's family, people from the media, and many other innocent people's lives were unexpectedly taken without any regard. This brutal, bloody incident is an evidence of the dirty and selfish side of Philippine politics; the greed that's built in the nature of humanity.

In order to advance his own interest, the prime suspect, Mayor Andang Ampatuan Jr., planned and strategized the ambush of the convoy and, together with his private army, relentlessly murdered the people on the convoy.

As Filipinos, we pity the victims and the families of this tragic incident. Justice is being shouted by the Filipino people, and as a rule of thumb, the law must be implemented without any exemptions, in the shortest possible time. Everyone who took part in this massacre should be held responsible and arrested as soon as possible.

Lastly, as Lasallians, we would like to impart to everyone that each of us, in our own simple ways, could make the change that we want in our society and to our country, and that this may be a lesson for us to learn and live with.

May our Almighty God bless us all.

The facts

On the morning of November 23, 2009 the brutal “Maguindanao Massacre” had occurred on the province of Maguindanao in Mindanao. The prime suspect for this brutal massacre was Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay Mayor Ampatuan Jr. for Governor for next year’s election and on that morning the incident happened by killing 67 people riding on four cars and almost 100 people performed the massacre by killing the men and raping the women before they kill them. And, they are also some holes ready for them so that after they kill the victims they will bury them so that it will turn out that there is no such killing that happened but they will not able to finish the mess because they are soldiers roaming the place.

Our Analysis

"The blood that flowed in Maguindanao stains the hands of the President who
ultimately commands the forces of political control and coercion in this
country. We demand that justice be done with all transparency and in
the quickest possible time." - Philippine Lasallian Family

The notorious mass murder was caused by politics-related conflict between the two opposing gubernatorial candidates. After the incident had happened, there were several speculations on what caused the murder and who were the ones that should be held responsible for the crime. According to a star witness, now in the protection of government custody, the Ampatuans are responsible for the prosecution, and implicated that not only Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay town was the prime suspect, but also eight other members of the powerful Ampatuan clan in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 civilians in Maguindanao.

According to authorities, the witness was supposedly present during the meeting, and told that he heard orders directly from the Ampatuans and even took part in the murders. The testimony of the witness and several other witnesses who appeared made the evidence against the suspects stronger and clearer. At first, Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. said that it was the notoriuos group, MILF who was responsible for the mass murder. He said,"Napakadali para magbintang. Dapat may ebidensya. Wala akong kasalanan. Ang may kasalanan ay MILF Umbra Kato (It's so easy to accuse someone. There should be evidence. I'm innocent. The culprits are with MILF's Umbra Kato)", but after the testimonies of the witnesses, he finally admitted the crime and now is in the custody of the NBI.