Microreporting the fact-finding mission to Ampatuan, Maguindanao

(Click here for the Photo Story)

January 22, 2010 / Day 1

AMPATUAN: Bulatlat will provide live updates from Maguindanao throughout FFM that began there today, courtesy of Kodao Productions.

AMPATUAN: 15 members of National Interfaith Mission for Peace and Justice arrive in Cotabato City for Maguindanao fact-finding mission.

AMPATUAN: No ARMM and Cotabato officials available to talk to FFM delegates as part of preparations for visit to massacre site tomorrow.

AMPATUAN: Maguindanao FFM delegates observe that Cotabato City is crawling w/ government
troops. ARMM compound also guarded by army platoon.

AMPATUAN: Karapatan secretary-general Beh De Castro–”The Ampatuans were never really politically uprooted after the massacre.”

AMPATUAN: “Despite our well-grounded fears for our safety, we will proceed with our mission tomorrow,” says Karapatan secgen Beh De Castro.

January 23, 2010 / Day 2

AMPATUAN: Interfaith Mission for Peace and Justice is preparing to travel to the site of the massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: Interfaith mission left Cotabato City for Ampatuan, Maguindanao 15 minutes ago.

AMPATUAN: Interfaith mission now has 150 participants, expected to reach 300 once in Ampatuan. They are in a 14-vehicle convoy.

AMPATUAN: At least 33 relatives of Ampatuan massacre victims will join the interfaith mission at the site to mark 2nd month of carnage.

AMPATUAN: The convoy is expected to pass at least 20 army & police checkpoints before reaching the massacre site in Ampatuan town.

AMPATUAN: A Philippine eagle soars as the mission drives past Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: Cloudy skies over Guindulngan, Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: Mission reaches Ampatuan clan’s fiefdom as it crosses Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: (10:52am) Drizzling in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: (10:55am) Mission reaches Maguindanao capital, Shariff Aguak; pass by Ampatuan mansions.

AMPATUAN: (11:02am) Mission links up with more media groups in front of Ampatuan town hall. Army and police troops in full battle gear.

AMPATUAN: (11:12am) Army troops stationed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, arrived from Isabela province 10 days ago.

AMPATUAN: (11:23am) Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan arrive in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, to join the mission.

AMPATUAN: (11:46am) Reps. Ocampo and Ilagan told by Ampatuan local officials they wish to bring peace and order back to Ampatuan town.

AMPATUAN: (11:50am) Ampatuan OIC Pindaton Magelna–”If they already planned this, they have their own town. Why do it in Ampatuan town?”

AMPATUAN: (11:52am) More than 300 FFM delegates settle down to an early lunch before proceeding to the massacre site.

AMPATUAN: (12:16pm) Interfaith mission leaves Ampatuan town hall to proceed to Brgy. Salman, site of the November 23 massacre.

AMPATUAN:(12:28pm) Mission arrives at Brgy. Salman ‘Tent City’ where evacuees were relocated after massacre. 900 families stay in lean-tos.

AMPATUAN: (12:32pm) Interfaith mission convoy leaving highway; on gravel and dirt road to the massacre site.

AMPATUAN: (12:37pm) Brgy. Salman residents say they heard gunshots on Nov. 23 and ran for home.

AMPATUAN: (12:37pm) Brgy. Salman residents were ordered not to go to the massacre site and evacuate to the barangay hall.

AMPATUAN: (12:49pm) No more residents live in Sitio Tugapok, Brgy. Salman. This hilly community was ground zero during the Nov 23 massacre.

AMPATUAN: (12:57pm) Mission begins to trek. Massacre site within sight. Place is eerily silent.

AMPATUAN: (1:01pm) White cogon flowers line the dirt road to massacre site while blue hills keep a silent watch. Victims’ families arrive.

AMPATUAN: (1:05pm) Inter-faith prayer begins in massacre site. Mission vows to the 57 victims: “You may rest in peace while we seek justice”.

AMPATUAN:(1:11pm) Prof Ridao to son & victim Anthony—“Son,mom and I are here to bring you flowers & light candles…Why did this happen to us?”

AMPATUAN: (1:16pm) Widow of DZRH’s Henry Araneta: “I thank everyone who came here to show sympathy and join our quest for justice.”

AMPATUAN:(1:21pm) Karapatan secgen Beh De Castro–”We can’t help but weep whenever we come to hear of more of these extrajudicial killings.”

AMPATUAN: Candles are lit, flowers are scattered and white balloons are released in memory of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

AMPATUAN: Massacre 2nd month commemoration ends. Mission delegates now distribute relief goods to evacuees.

AMPATUAN: FFM delegates composed of media groups, human rights orgs, lawyer groups, church people, sectoral & regional orgs and partylists.

AMPATUAN: Relief operation for evacuees in Sitio Masalay, Brgy. Salman, Ampatuan, mobbed.

AMPATUAN: Fr. Diony Cabillas of Karapatan–”Imagine a thousand families forcibly evacuated because of the massacre.”

AMPATUAN: BayanMuna & Gabriela are only partylists to conduct relief mission in Maguindanao despite being cheated past 3 national elections

AMPATUAN: Partylists that praised the Ampatuans before the massacre have yet to make their presence felt in Maguindanao.

AMPATUAN: Mission delegates on the way back to Cotabato City.

AMPATUAN: Mission passes by huts where people reside for census purposes so Ampatuans can create more municipalities & mayors in their clan.

AMPATUAN: Mission arrives in Cotabato City. Other participants on their way home to Koronadal, General Santos and Davao cities.

AMPATUAN: Karapatan secgen Beh de Castro—“Victims’ families are grateful for the strong support provided by hundreds of mission participants.”

AMPATUAN: Mission solidarity night ongoing w/ Notre Dame students singing uplifting songs. For first time today, victims’s families smiled.

AMPATUAN: Kalinaw-Mindanao’s Amirah Lidasan–”We will fight on for justice for the victims of the ampatuan massacre, for all our rights.”

AMPATUAN: Kawagib secgen Bay Ali to mission delegates–”Because of your solidarity, we feel we are not alone in our quest for…”

AMPATUAN: Kawagib secgen Bay Ali to mission delegates–”… justice for victims of human rights violations in our Mindanao homeland.”

AMPATUAN: NUJP and Pinoy Weekly’s Ilang-Ilang Quijano–”The Ampatuan massacre made the ranks of journalists more aware…”

AMPATUAN: Ilang-ilang Quijano–”…that we have to fight for the people’s right to information and meaningful change.”

AMPATUAN: Mario Ridao, father of victim Anthony: ” Tonight’s speeches says so much about why a growing number are now more aware of human rights.”

AMPATUAN: Sammy Maulana of Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society–”Beyond the Maguindanao and countless other massacres, the greatest crime is the denial of the Bangsamoro’s right to self-determination.”

AMPATUAN: Solidarity night concludes, ending second day of the Interfaith Mission for Justice and Peace in Maguindanao.

January 24, 2010 / Day 3

AMPATUAN: Human rights forum starts w/ Islamic, Christian & Lumad prayers. Karapatan’s Beh De Castro & Rep. Satur Ocampo begin presentation.

AMPATUAN: Hustisya national coordinator Evangeline Hernandez–”She was killed because of her involvement, but I have come to realize…

AMPATUAN: … that my daughter Benjaline made the right decision to become a human rights defender.”

AMPATUAN: MAKABAYAN Senatoriable Satur Ocampo–”The reason why we have so many human rights violations is because…

AMPATUAN: … the military has a commander-in-chief who is Ampatuan-like in her disregard for life.”

AMPATUAN: Rep. Satur Ocampo–”I don’t know if Noynoy is naive or ignorant but I wasn’t released after EDSA 1.”

AMPATUAN: Rep. Satur Ocampo–”I escaped before Cory was installed by people power. Personally, I don’t owe Cory anything.”

AMPATUAN: Rep. Ocampo–”Nograles didn’t know what’s happening under his nose when he told Davao peasants we voted for CARPer. We opposed it!”

AMPATUAN: Kalinaw Mindanao’s Amirah Ali Lidasan–”Our culture does not agree with this impunity….

AMPATUAN: …Things just exploded when families whose rise to power were initially nurtured by their alliances are now elbowing each other.”

AMPATUAN: Alliance to End Impunity in Mindanao launched; to include families of victims of massacre, lawyers groups & human rights orgs.

AMPATUAN: Interfaith mission on its way to Davao City.

AMPATUAN: Mission slowed down by a cloudburst in Pikit, North Cotabato.

AMPATUAN: Mission pitstop in Kabacan, North Cotabato. Rain has stopped.

AMPATUAN: Mission reaches Digos City, capital of Davao del Sur. Strong rain making roads slippery.

AMPATUAN: Mission pulled over by a police checkpoint for the third time; reaches Davao City’s Ulas district.