Maguindanao Massacre

The Rule of Law: A Tragic Incident

THE 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. While the victims were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, they were kidnapped and brutally killed. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao governatorial election, part of the national elections in 2010. The 58 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."

source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_massacre

The very sad tragedy that happened in Maguindanao shocked the whole world. Even I can’t believe that a person can do such brutal thing, killing 58 innocent people like insects. The first time I heard about the news made my heart sink since I never thought that the Ampatuans would go that far. Before the massacre happened, I’ve been hearing rumors of the way the Ampatuans handle the place they govern. Somehow I do believe that they are corrupt. They have been governing over Maguindanao for quite some time and I see no improvements in the place. 

The relations between President Arroyo and the Ampatuans hinged on a symbiosis of political and electoral interests as demonstrated by the clan’s outstanding delivery capacity in all electoral exercises held in the province of Maguindanao. The Ampatuans have previously been called valuable political allies by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and many commentators have said her support has emboldened the clan. I think President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s interest was electoral victory for her in 2004 and for her party in 2007, which the Ampatuans helped deliver. The Ampatuan in turn were amply rewarded with funds from the different government agencies and freedom to dispense with the province’s Internal Revenue Allotment as the family pleased. 

Bodies of the Victims of the Maguindanao Massacre

source:http://sirganz.hubpages.com/hub/Justice-Delayed-Justice-Denied-3#

As we all know, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is facing a lot of controversies right now and is accused of Graft and Corruption. So, I think the Ampatuans are also exercising Graft and Corruption in the government. I think that is one of the reasons why Maguindanao was not prospering at all. The loyalty of the local police, the military commanders, and election and other local government officials in Maguindanao was to the persons of the Ampatuans, and not to the rule of law nor the sanctity of the election, shows how perversely they have consolidated their power base. I can say that the Ampatuan’s term lacks procedural predictability, policy rationality or consistency because personal profit rather than reason guide the state’s impulse. 

I feel ashamed of some government officials because of how selfish they are. They were placed in that position because the people trust them and believe in them that they can lead and make the country a better place. In the hands of rapacious government officials and economic interests who seek to maximize their selfish gains from the state, sustained economic development becomes impossible. Poverty and unemployment persist. I think the Maguindanao massacre is an imagery that shows this pervasive rent-seeking and corruption taking place at the national and local levels than the sight of the Ampatuan and Arroyo mansions amidst the poverty of their constituents.

Families of the victims are mourning over the dead bodies

source:http://sirganz.hubpages.com/hub/Justice-Delayed-Justice-Denied-3#

Consequences brought by the Maguindanao massacre flooded the country and greatly affected the tourism industry.  I think one of the effects of Maguindanao massacre to the Tourism Industry are the cancellations of bookings in Airline and Hotel. The tourism here in the Philippines declined brought by the Maguindanao massacre. Tourists and investors from different countries flocked away from the country because of the sudden threat of security. For me, this decline in the tourism industry and slow flow of investment leads to a decrease in the economic growth. Since investment creates jobs and can cause a multiplier effect, the economy will boost, but because there is a decline in the tourism industry and slow flow of investment brought by the incident, there would be a decrease in economic growth.

On the other side of the coin, even if there may be countless of negative effects brought by the Maguindanao massacre, I believe that there is still a positive effect produced by the unforgettable tragedy. Because of the Maguindanao Massacre, the eyes of the people opened to the different issues in the government and in the community. It paved way to a better government and a better economy in Maguindanao. When the Ampatuans were still governing the place, a lot of underground activities were happening. Crimes were done everywhere and countless of people die not knowing how and why they were killed; illegal firearms and other illegal paraphernalia were sold in the underground market the Ampatuans are part of. 

The massacre left a mark that pushed the government to discern on the condition of Maguindanao and the country as a whole. Has the place been prospering or the Ampatuans were the ones prospering? That is one of the questions brought by the massacre that is worth to ponder. The massacre reminded the government, the people, and the whole country that corruption must be stopped before it eats the economy, the government and the nation itself. It is a sad thing that it went this far before the people, especially the government, would make a move to change the face of justice and to uplift the gradual economic growth of the country.

Entry for ECON 211 Assignment.
Ranica Marie M. Verzosa