Fast facts on the Maguindanao Massacre Case

The innocence or guilt of almost 200 accused in the worst act of political violence in Philippine history will be known on Thursday, December 19, a decade after the victims—58 in all, including 32 journalists and media workers—were strafed on a hill in the town that bore the surname of the alleged masterminds.

Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court set the promulgation at 9 a.m. on Thursday at Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The promulgation will be aired via an unprecedented live coverage of media organizations—a development just as unprecedented as the massacre which is considered the worst election-related violence in Philippine history.

Here are some facts about the Maguindanao Massacre case:

Killed in convoy

Those who died included Genalyn Mangudadatu, wife of then Buluan Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu, a rival of the ruling Ampatuan clan.

Others in the ill-fated convoy were other members of the Mangudadatu family, legal staff and journalists assigned to cover the filing of Toto's certificate of candidacy to challenge then Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. in the 2010 elections.

The victims were shot multiple times and their bodies were dismembered. The suspects tried to bury them using a backhoe.

The victims include:

Family members and supporters of Mangudadatu

• Genalin Mangudadatu (Mangudadatu’s wife)
• Eden Mangudadatu
• Farinah Hassan
• Surayda Bernan
• Mamotabai Mangudadatu
• Wahida Kalim
• Rowena Ante
• Raida Abdul
• Faridah Sabdullah
• Pinky Balayman
• Lailani Balayman
• Eugene Demillo
• Abdillah Ayada
• Rahima Palawan
• Meriam Calimbol

32 journalists and media workers

• Bengie Adolfo
• Henry Araneta
• McDelbert Arriola
• Rubello Bataluna
• Arturo Betia
• Romeo Jimmy Cabillo
• Marites Cablitas
• Hannibal Cachuela
• Jephon Cadagdagon
• John Caniban
• Eleanor Dalmacio
• Noel Decena
• Gina dela Cruz
• Jose Duhay
• Jolito Evardo
• Santos Gatchalian Jr.
• Bienvenido Legarta Jr.
• Lindo Lupogan
• Ernesto Maravilla
• Rey Merisco
• Reynaldo Momay
• Marife Montaño
• Rosell Morales
• Victor Nuñez
• Joel Parcon
• Ronnie Perante
• Fernando Razon
• Alejandro Reblando
• Napoleon Salaysay
• Francisco Subang Jr.
• Andres Teodoro
• Daniel Tiamzon

Passers-by

• Wilhelm Palabrica
• Mercy Palabrica
• Eduardo Lichonsito
• Cecille Lichonsito
• Daryll Vicent Delos Reyes
• Anthony Ridao

Van drivers

• Norton Edza
• Razul Daud

Lawyers and a lawyer’s dad

• Concepcion Brizuela
• Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon
• Catalino Oquendo

Suspects

There are 191 individuals initially accused in the case. More than 20 of them belong to the Ampatuan clan. Andal, Sr., the governor and patriarch of the powerful political family;and his sons Andal Jr., alias Unsay; Sajid, Zaldy were among those charged with 58 counts of murder.

• Ampatuan, Datu Andal "Unsay" Jr. U.
• Ampatuan, Datu Andal Sr. 
• Ampatuan, Datu Zaldy "Puti" U.
• Ampatuan, Datu Jimmy
• Ampatuan, Anwar Sajid Jr. "Datu Ulo"
• Ampatuan, Datu Anwar Jr. "Datu Ipi"
• Ampatuan, Manny U.
• Ampatuan, Misuari A.
• Ampatuan, Jonathan S.
• Ampatuan, Mohades A.
• Ampatuan, Datu Akmad "Tato" Sr.
• Ampatuan, Datu Sajid Islam  U. (out on bail)
• Ampatuan, Datu Kanor
• Ampatuan, Datu Bahnarin A. (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Mama (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Saudi Jr. (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Harris (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Moning (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Alnor (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Norodin "Nords" Datumanong (at large)
• Ampatuan, Datu Dainga (at large)
• Ampatuan , Rodel U. (at large)
• Ampatuan, Kertz  B. (at large)
• Ampatuan, Tony Kenis (at large)
• Ampatuan, Intan B. (at large)
• Ampatuan, Kagi Amar (at large)
• Ampatuan, Mohamad D. (at large)

Accused still on trial

Only 101 of the accused remained on trial as of November 27 because of the following reasons: cases were dismissed due to lack of probable cause, two of them turned state witness, four were released due to insufficient evidence and eight of the accused died while in detention.

Andal Sr. was among those who died while in custody.

Lawyers for prosecution, defense

The prosecution has 17 lawyers, with 11 public prosecutors and six private prosecutors.

The defense side, on the other hand, was defended by 20 defense lawyers and/or law firms

Witnesses

The Court heard 357 witnesses. Of this number, 134 were prosecution witnesses, 58 private complainants, and 165 defense witnesses.

Trial days

It took the court 424 trial days to hear all of the testimonies of 357 witnesses. —NB, GMA News