Esmael Mangudadatu

Esmael "Toto" Gaguil Mangudadatu[3] (Tagalog pronunciation: [mɐŋʊdɐˈdatʊʔ]; born August 15, 1968) is a Filipino politician serving as the representative of Maguindanao's 2nd district since 2019.[4] He previously served as the governor of Maguindanao from 2010 to 2019. In Buluan town, he served as the mayor from 1998 to 2007, and vice mayor from 2007 to 2010.

Esmael Mangudadatu
Mangudadatu in 2018
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Maguindanao's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Datu Zajid G. Mangudadatu
Governor of Maguindanao
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Vice Governor	Datu Ismael "Dustin" Mastura (2010–2013) Datu Lester Sinsuat (2013–2019)
Preceded by	Nariman Ambolodto (acting governor) Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Succeeded by	Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu
Vice Mayor of Buluan, Maguindanao
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010
Mayor	Ibrahim Mangudadatu
Succeeded by	King Jhazzer Mangudadatu
Mayor of Buluan, Maguindanao
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Mangudadatu
Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 1998
Personal details
Born	August 15, 1968 Maguindanao, Philippines
Political party	PDP–Laban (2016–present)
Other political affiliations	Liberal Party (2011–2016) Lakas Kampi CMD (until 2011)
Spouse(s)	Genalyn Tiamzon ​ ​ (m. 1991; died 2009)​ [1] Mylene Maligaya[2]
Relations	Pua Mangudadatu (father) Pax Mangudadatu (uncle)
Residence	Buluan, Maguindanao, Philippines

In the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, Mangudadatu's family members, aides, lawyers, and supporters, plus several journalists, were kidnapped and murdered while on their way to file Mangudadatu's candidacy for the gubernatorial elections. Andal Ampatuan Jr., Mangudadatu's scheduled opponent for the 2010 elections, was charged with the murders.[5] In 2019, Andal Jr. and his brother Zaldy, as well as their associates, were convicted of the murders.[6]

Early life

Mangudadatu was born on August 15, 1968, to Pua Mangudadatu, a politician that was president of the "Magnificent 7", a group of influential politicians in the province at the time. An uncle is Pax Mangudadatu, incumbent representative of the 1st district of Sultan Kudarat in Tacurong City.[7]

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, a Hiligaynon Visayan, while they were both students in Davao City, Mindanao. They married on November 11, 1991, and had multiple children.[7] Starting a family after getting married cut his medical studies short but he later earned his political science degree from the University of Mindanao in Davao City.[7]

Politics

Mangudadatu visited the then governor of Maguindanao province, Zacaria Candao, to obtain approval for a new business venture. Instead, Candao, who was also Mangudadatu's godfather, talked him into running for office.[7] He was a member of Maguindanao's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) from 1995 to 1998. He then became mayor of Buluan from 1998 to 2007. In the 2007 elections, he became vice mayor of Buluan.[8] In 2009 he decided to challenge the Ampatuan clan's heir apparent in the election for governor of Maguindanao province.[7]

He was instrumental for the proposed creation of a new province to be called as Maguindanao North, which will be composed of the First Legislative District of Maguindanao.

Maguindanao massacre

The Maguindanao massacre 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,[9] part of the national elections in 2010. The 57 people killed included Mangudadatu's wife, two of his sisters, and a cousin, in addition to numerous journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.[10][11] 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,"[1]

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.[12]

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.[13] He ran under the banner of the Lakas Kampi CMD party. In the party, Mangudadatu replaced his rivals from the Ampatuan clan which perpetrated the massacre.[13] He would win the election and served for 9 years as governor.

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.[14] On February 14, 2010, Mangudadatu and his bodyguard were charged with murder.[15]

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.[16] 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.

References

1. "Philippines political violence leaves 21 dead". BBC News. November 23, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
2. "Lawmaker's wife accuses him of concubinage, gets threats from his son". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
3. Arguillas, Carolyn (February 8, 2010). "Detained but still running big-time". MindaNews. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
4. Macabalang, A. (May 21, 2019). "Toto Mangudadatu eyes post-election reconciliation". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
5. Tran, Mark (November 26, 2009). "Philippines massacre: police charge local politician with murder". The Guardian. London. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
6. "Maguindanao massacre verdict: Zaldy Ampatuan, Andal Jr. found guilty of murder". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
7. Jannaral, Julmunir I. (January 1, 2010). "Profile: Vice Mayor Esmael 'Toto' Mangudadatu". Manila Times. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
8. Ilagan, Karol (April 12, 2013). "The wealth of Gov. Toto". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
9. Jimenez-David, Rina (November 24, 2009). "Understanding the unbelievable". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 28, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
10. "Philippines charges 196 over Maguindanao massacre". BBC News. February 9, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
11. "Trial in Philippines massacre suspended". United Press International. February 24, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
12. KBK, JV, GMANews.TV (November 26, 2009). "Ampatuan detained at NBI, blames MILF for massacre". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved March 1, 2010.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
13. "Mangudadatu files candidacy for Maguindanao governor". GMA News and Public Affairs. November 27, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
14. RMH (February 24, 2010). "Mangudadatu, kids, guards face probe panel". Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
15. Andong, Lore Mae (February 14, 2010). "Mangudadatu says he is surprised by murder charge". ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
16. "Bomb hits Maguindanao guv's convoy; 1 dead, 7 hurt". Sun.Star Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2011.