Today, November 23, marks the 9th anniversary of what is considered to be the worst case of election-related violence and journalist killings in the country. The Maguindanao massacre left 58 civilians dead — 32 of them journalists, also making it the single deadliest attack against journalists. 21 victims were female, some found with traces of semen and positive for sexual abuse. Of the 58, 15 were motorists who were just driving by and were unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Three mass graves were dug for the intended cover-up. About 188 suspects were accused including the primary suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is said to have planned the attack. The Ampatuans were known allies of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Many of the perpetrators were private armies of the Ampatuans working in cahoots with government security forces. The creation and utilization of private armies as force multipliers in the government’s anti-people campaigns was inked by Gloria Arroyo in 2006 through Executive Order 546.
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