Esmael Mangudadatu
Encyclopedia
Esmael “Toto" Mangudadatu or (Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu) (b. August 15, 1968) is the Governor of Maguindanao
, in the Philippines
. Mangudadatu was elected
for governor of Maguindanao
after defeating his closest rival, Ombra Sinsuat by a margin of 12,705 votes. The race came to international attention after the 2009 Maguindanao massacre
during which his wife, sisters, aides, and lawyers, plus several journalists were kidnapped and murdered. Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
, against whom Mangudadatu was running for Governor, was charged with the murders. He denies that he was involved.
incumbent representative of the 1st district of Sultan Kudarat in Tacurong City
.
Seeking to escape his political dynasty, Mangudadatu went to University in order to be a doctor. It was there that Mangudadatu met his wife Genalyn, from the Ilongga clan, while they were both students in Davao City
, Mindanao
. They married on November 11, 1991. Starting a family after getting married cut his medical studies short but even after having many children he earned his Political Science degree from the University of Mindanao
in Davao City.
occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan
in Maguindanao
province, on the island of Mindanao
in the Philippines
. The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay
mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
, son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr.
, in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election, part of the national elections in 2010
. The 57 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. Mangudadatu told reporters that his wife was able to call her husband just before she was killed, "She said... they had been stopped by 100 uniformed armed men... then her line got cut off,"
The man thought responsible Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
denies that he was responsible and instead blames the MILF
an armed Islamic group that operates in the Southern Philippines. MILF released a statement denying that it was responsible.
The bomb, placed inside an old and white Kia vehicle that was parked at the side of the road fronting the Cherubim Methodist Learning Center in Alunan Highway, exploded when a Toyota Fortuner, where the provincial board member was on board, passed near it. Mangudadatu was unhurt in the bombing because his vehicle was bullet-proof.
Maguindanao
Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south....
, in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Mangudadatu was elected
Philippine gubernatorial elections, 2010
Gubernatorial elections was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2010. All provinces elected their provincial governors for three-year terms that will begin on June 30, 2010...
for governor of Maguindanao
Maguindanao
Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south....
after defeating his closest rival, Ombra Sinsuat by a margin of 12,705 votes. The race came to international attention after the 2009 Maguindanao massacre
Maguindanao massacre
The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre after the town where the mass graves were found, occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines...
during which his wife, sisters, aides, and lawyers, plus several journalists were kidnapped and murdered. Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the former mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. He is the son of patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his family continues to represent a powerful force in Mindanao politics...
, against whom Mangudadatu was running for Governor, was charged with the murders. He denies that he was involved.
Early life
Esmael Mangudadatu was born on August 15, 1968 to father Pua Mangudadatu who was a famous politician that was president of the “Magnificent 7,” a group of influential politicians in the province at the time. Esmael Mangudadatu's uncle is Pax MangudadatuPax Mangudadatu
Hon. Pakung S. Mandudadatu also known as Pax Mangudadatu was elected Representative of the 1st district of Sultan Kudarat with Tacurong City under the administration's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino party in 2007....
incumbent representative of the 1st district of Sultan Kudarat in Tacurong City
Tacurong City
Tacurong City is a 4th class city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 82,546. Tacurong now has a total land area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in land area among the 12 municipalities that compose the new province of Sultan...
.
Seeking to escape his political dynasty, Mangudadatu went to University in order to be a doctor. It was there that Mangudadatu met his wife Genalyn, from the Ilongga clan, while they were both students in Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. They married on November 11, 1991. Starting a family after getting married cut his medical studies short but even after having many children he earned his Political Science degree from the University of Mindanao
University of Mindanao
The ' is the largest private, non-sectarian university in Mindanao located in Davao City on the Southern Philippine island. Established in 1946, the University of Mindanao has ten branches spread over thirteen campuses in Southern Mindanao. It is currently an Autonomous Status per CEB Resolution...
in Davao City.
Politics
Seeking to support his ever increasing family Mangudadatu visited the then governor of Maguindanao province, Zacaria Candao. His intention was to get approval for a new business venture but instead Candao, who was his godfather, talked him into running for office. He was elected and became a provincial board member. He went on to become Mayor of Buluan and after he reached his term limit became Vice Mayor. In 2009 he decided to challenge the Ampatuan clan's heir apparent in the election for governor of Maguindanao province.Maguindanao massacre
The Maguindanao massacreMaguindanao massacre
The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre after the town where the mass graves were found, occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines...
occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan
Ampatuan, Maguindanao
Ampatuan, Maguindanao is a municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines.-Barangays:Ampatuan is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Dicalongan * Kakal* Kamasi* Kapilpilaan* Kauran* Malatimon* Matagabong* Saniag* Tomicor...
in Maguindanao
Maguindanao
Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south....
province, on the island of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay
Datu Unsay, Maguindanao
Datu Unsay is a municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines.-Barangays:Datu Unsay is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.*Bulayan*Iganagampong*Macalag *Maitumaig*Meta*Panangeti*Tuntungan -History:...
mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the former mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. He is the son of patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his family continues to represent a powerful force in Mindanao politics...
, son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr.
Andal Ampatuan, Sr.
Andal Ampatuan, Sr. is the patriarch of the Ampatuan political family in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. He was the governor of the province....
, in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election, part of the national elections in 2010
Philippine general election, 2010
Elections for all positions in the Philippines above the barangay were held on Monday, May 10, 2010. The elected president will become the 15th President of the Philippines, succeeding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is barred from seeking re-election due to term restrictions...
. The 57 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. Mangudadatu told reporters that his wife was able to call her husband just before she was killed, "She said... they had been stopped by 100 uniformed armed men... then her line got cut off,"
The man thought responsible Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the former mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. He is the son of patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his family continues to represent a powerful force in Mindanao politics...
denies that he was responsible and instead blames the MILF
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
an armed Islamic group that operates in the Southern Philippines. MILF released a statement denying that it was responsible.
2010 Elections
Four days after the massacre, Mangudadatu traveled along the same road where the attack had occurred to successfully file his candidacy in the election. He ran under the banner of the Lakas Kampi CMD party. In the Lakas Kampi CMD party, Mangudadatu replaced his rivals from the Ampatuan clan who supposedly were the perpetators of the Maguindanao massacre.Gaisano Mall shootings
On February 11, 2010 Tamano Kamendan approached Mangudadatu and his entourage at the Gaisano South Citimall in Davao City. An altercation took place and Kamendan was killed by Esmael Mangudadatu's bodyguard. Mangudadatu released a statement that Kamendan was an associate of the Ampatuan clan and that he was trying to kidnap his children. Kamendan's wife denies the Ampatuan connection and has stated in an affidavit that her husband was just shopping when Mangudadatu ordered his men to shoot him. On February 14, 2010 Mangudadatu and his bodyguard were charged with murder.Tacurong City car bombing
Mangudadatu's convoy on August 15, 2011 was hit by a car bomb that exploded along a highway in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. Two people were killed, including a Maguindanao board member, while six others were wounded. The bomb exploded while Mangudadatu's convoy was cruising along the highway in Tacurong. The governor and his followers were heading to a restaurant to celebrate his birthday.The bomb, placed inside an old and white Kia vehicle that was parked at the side of the road fronting the Cherubim Methodist Learning Center in Alunan Highway, exploded when a Toyota Fortuner, where the provincial board member was on board, passed near it. Mangudadatu was unhurt in the bombing because his vehicle was bullet-proof.