Out of the 12 Maguindanao Massacre perpetrators or conspirators only two are not running for any position for the upcoming May 2010. Only Datu Unsay mayor Datu Andal ‚ÄúUnsay” Ampatuan, Jr., and ARMM governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan. The rest of the 10 suspects are running for local post as well as their wives and daughters.

Ampatuan Jr. who wants to become the governor of Maguindanao, which I assumed, carried out the massacre to assure his victory, have his wife Reshal Santiago to run for mayor of Datu Unsay.

Ampatuan Sr., who is confined in a military hospital in Davao City, is running for vice governor of Maguindanao against three opponents, including his daughter, Shaydee Ampatuan-Abutazil.

Datu Zaldy Ampatuan wife, Bai Johaira or Bongbong Midtimbang is running for mayor of Datu Hoffer town, while eldest daughter Bai Norailla Kristina, is running for councilor. Both mother and daughter are assured of victory. They are running unopposed.


Anwar Sr., then mayor of Shariff Aguak, is running for vice mayor, while wife Zahara Upam is running for mayor. Three of their children are running for councilor of Shariff Aguak: Anhara, Anwar Jr. (also known as Datu Ipi) and Rowella. Another child, Manny Upam Ampatuan, is running for councilor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

Sajid, OIC Governor from January to shortly before the massacre when Ampatuan Sr. took over, is running for provincial board member; his wife Zandria is running for mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

Akmad ‚ÄúTato” Masukat Ampatuan Sr., then OIC vice governor, is running for vice mayor of Mamasapano against his daughter Lady Sha-honey. Son Bahnarin is running for mayor against another son, Benzar.

The six others member of the Ampatuan clan who are implicated in the massacre are grandsons Saudi Jr., Bahnarin and Datu Anwar ‚ÄúIpi” Ampatuan, Jr.; Kanor Datumanong Ampatuan, Datu Mama Ampatuan and Datu Norodin Ampatuan are yet to be arrested.

All six of the mentioned names are also running for top posts: Saudi Jr. is seeking reelection as mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town; Bahnarin is running for mayor of Mamasapano; Ipi is running for councilor of Shariff Aguak; Kanor is running for vice mayor of Datu Salibo; Datu Mama is running for councilor of Datu Salibo and Datu Norodin Datumanong Ampatuan, is running for councilor of Shariff Aguak.

Comelec records show that 68 Ampatuans are running in this year’s election – 50 of them carry the surname and 18 others use Ampatuan as middle name. Of the 50, at least 23 candidates are directly related to Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

The prominent Ampatuans clan is implicated in the November 23, 2009 massacre which killed least 58 persons were massacred on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, including 32 from the media.

It is believed that the massacre was carried out because of political reason.

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