The carnage of about 57 helpless persons in Maguindanao in the morning of November 23 (Monday) was one of the darkest periods in the political history of the Philippines. It was planned and was allegedly a brainchild of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr who turned-over himself to the authorities three days after the massacre that earned condemnation from all over the world.

Many alleged that the motive was political and held Andal Ampatuan Jr as the primer suspect. The Mangudadatus and Ampatuans were close allies in the past but those ties went sour when they allegedly over political power struggle over Maguindanao, according to some sources. Many members of both clans have positions in the local and national government today. This time, the tension was fueled anew when Buluan Vice Mayor Ishmael Mangudadatu was set to run against the gubernatorial aspirant Andal Ampatuan Jr. son of incumbent Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. in the coming May 2010 elections.

Instead of himself, Vice Mayor Mangudadatu sent his wife to lead a convoy going to Shariff Aguak to file his certificate of candidacy. But about 100 armed stopped the convoy and carried out the carnage that included media practitioners who were invited to supposedly witness the Mangudadatus’s filing of COC. Earlier, rumors had it that convoy event would be attacked.

Indeed, the attack was carried out by the beasts that according to the testimonies of the witnesses shot practically all victim women at their genitals. Whether the poor victims were raped, that remained to be investigated. There about 22 victim women.

The killers wanted to wipe out all possible witnesses so that they included motorists that happened to catch up with the convoy. Also, a backhoe that belonged to the Municipality of Maguindanao was used to bury the victims to hide traces of the crime. But to no avail because there were those involved - bothered by their conscience - turned witnesses. Also, the authorities have already identified the operator of the backhoe who, according to witnesses, managed to escape before the soldiers arrived at the crime scene.