Maguindanao Massacre Final Ruling and Sentences
After more than a decade, the long-awaited verdict of the Maguindanao Massacre case has arrived. Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 found Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his brother Zaldy Ampatuan guilty.
The dispositive portion of the 761-page decision of Judge Solis-Reyes that was read in court said, the prosecution was able to “establish the guilt beyond reasonable doubt” of 28 accused “who are found to have acted as principal.”
The Maguindanao massacre is the worst case of election-related mass killings in Philippine history, where 57 people were killed on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao. The victims were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, when they were kidnapped and later killed. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and member of one of Mindanao’s leading Muslim political clans, in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election, part of the national elections in 2010. The people killed included Mangudadatu’s wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.
Of the 101 accused, the following were found guilty of acting as accessories. They are sentenced to imprisonment of six years of prision correcional as minimum up to 10 years and eight months of prision mayor as maximum.
- Michael Joy Macaraeg (PInsp)
- Felix Enate (PO3)
- Abibudin Abdulgani (PO3)
- Rasid Anton (PO3)
- Hamad Nana (PO2)
- Saudi Pasutan (PO2)
- Saudiar Ulah (PO2)
- Esprielito Lejarso (PO1)
- Narkouk Mascud (PO1)
- Pia Kamidon (PO1)
- Esmael Guialal (PO1)
- Arnulfo Soriano (PO1)
- Herich Amaba (PO1)
- Abdulgapor Abad (PSupt)
- Bong Andal
The following are the principal accused who were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of committing 57 counts of murder. They are sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole. Police said 58 people were killed in the 2009 massacre but the body of the 58th victim was never found.
- Datu Andal Unsay Ampatuan Jr.
- Datu Anwar Sajid Ulo Ampatuan
- Datu Anwar Ipi Ampatuan Jr.
- Saudi Mokamad (PINsp)
- Jonathan Engid (PO1)
- Abedin Alamada alias Kumander Bedi
- Talembo “Tammy” Masukat
- Theng Sali alias Abdullah Hamad Abdulkahar
- Manny Ampatuan
- Nasser Esmael alias Nasrudin Esmael
- Datu Zaldy Ampatuan
- Sukarno Dicay (PCI)
- Abusama Mundas Maguid (PSupt)
- Bahnarin Kamaong (PSupt)
- Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr.
- Tato Tampogao
- Mohades Ampatuan
- Mohamad Datumanong
- Misuari Ampatuan
- Taya Bangkulat
- Salik Bangkulat
- Thong Guiamano
- Sonny Pindi
- Armando Ambalgan
- Kudza Masukat Uguia
- Edres Kasan
- Zacaria Akil
- Samaon Andatuan