Massacre Victims: 65 – Period!

COMMENT
by Patricio P. Diaz
from MindaNews

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/17 Dec) – Last December 14, MindaNews posted the story I wrote, “November 23 Massacre Victims: 65?” I used the question mark (?) to invite editors to investigate the discrepancy between the “57” consistently used in media reports and the number of names listed in the two reports – the partial list in Inquirer.net on November 25 and in the Report of President Arroyo to Congress.

When there are indicators of discrepancy in news stories, journalists are expected to be investigative. I have no way of knowing how the MindaNews item was received. Unless I’m proven wrong, the lists and other relevant media reports positively indicate that the number of victims is 65. Period!

Following is the reprint of the Mindanews item. After that I will discuss the discrepancy, and the logical questions they elicit that no journalist or editor must ignore.

The Item

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 9 – A collation of media reports and the report of the President to Congress showed that 65 were massacred on the hillside of Masalay, a sitio of Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao last November 23. This is not just a statistical probability. All the 65 were identified by names.

President Arroyo’s report named 55 victims; the partial list posted in INQUIRER.net on November 25 had 47 names. Media reports have consistently mentioned 57 victims of whom 31 were media people.

The victims were in eight vehicles. Five — the UNTV van and four Toyota Grandia vans – comprised the Mangudatu convoy. The three others — one official car of Tacurong City, a red Toyota Vios, one Tamaraw FX, and one Pajero – happened to be with the convoy.

MindaNews (November 29) reported that the Toyota Vios had five passengers and the Tamaraw FX was driven by Anthony Ridao. It did not mention any number of people in the Pajero. A report said Ridao was alone.

The Arroyo report identified 12 Mangudadatu women relatives; two lady lawyers and the father of lawyer Cynthia Oquendo; 29 media people; two drivers; five government employees; and four civilians.

The 12 Magundadatu women in the Arroyo report matched with the INQ.net report; so did the two lawyers and Mr. Oquendo. These 15 were in the Mangudadatu convoy.

The 29 media people named in the Arroyo report did not include four named in the INQ.net list. That brought the number of media victims named to 33. They were in the convoy.

The two drivers named in the Arroyo report were in the INQ.net list. However, four in the list were not in the Arroyo report. That made six the number of drivers. Inquirer reporter Aquiles Zonio, one of the three media men left behind, said in his report (INQ.net, November 24) there were five drivers in the convoy.

The four civilians named in the Arroyo report were not in the INQ.net list. One civilian named in the INQ.net list was not among the four named in the Arroyo report. That made five the number of victims indentified as civilians.

To sum up the collated numbers: 12 Mangudadatu relatives; 3 convoy members (two lawyers and Mr. Oquendo); 33 media people; 6 drivers; 5 government employees; and 5 civilians: Total: 64.

Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima (Inquirer.net, December 3) said four families were claiming three bodies indicating one victim missing. MindaNews (December 3) said the Momay family of Tacurong City had reported to the CHR that Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, photographer of Midland Review was still missing. That raised the number of media victims to 34 and the total number of named victims to 65.

Incidentally, Zonio reported on November 24 that the Mangudadatu convoy consisted of 16 women (obviously counting Mr. Oquendo in this number), 37 media people, and five drivers. Since he and two others did not join in the last minute, there were only 34 media people and 55 in the convoy. Not part of the convoy were one driver, five employees and four civilians taking the Toyota Vios, Tamaraw FX and the Pajero.

The list of victims from the collated reports

Magundadatu relatives: Bai Genalin T. Magudadatu, Pinky Balaiman, Bai Eden Magundadatu, Bai Farida Mangudadatu, Rowena Anne Mangudadatu, Mamotavia Magudadatu, Faridah Dabdula, Soraida Vernan (Bernan in INQ.net list), Raidah Sapalan Abdul, Rahima Puto Palawan, Lailan “Ella” Balayman, and Wahida Ali Kalim.

Two lawyers: Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ogano and Atty. Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela.
Atty. Oquendo’s father: Cataleno Oquendo.

Media people: (In GMA Report) Gina dela Cruz, Lea Dalmacio, Marites Cablitas, Marife Montaño, Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, McDelbert “Mac Mac” Areola, Ray Matisco, Bienvenido Jun Lagarta, Napoleon Salaysay, Eugene Depillano, Rossell Morales, Arturo Betia, Noel Decena, John Canibo, Junpee Gatchalian, Victor Nuñez, Andres Teodoro, Romeo Capelo*;

Joy Duhay. Ronnie Perante, Benjie Adolfo, Ian Santiago, Joel Parcon, Robello Bataluna, Linda Lipugan, Ernesto Maravilla, Fernando Razon, Hannibal Cachuela, Henry Araneta; (In INQ.net list, not in Report) Councilor Razul Daud, Jovy Lagarta, Boyet dela Cruz, Art Mascardo; (Reported missing by family to CHR) Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay.

Drivers: (In GMA Report) Abdila Ayada, Norton “Sidic” Edza; (In INQ.net list, not in Report) Unto, Eugene, Patrick Pamansag, Chito.

Government Employees: (All in GMA Report) Wilhelm Palabrico, Mercy Palabrico, Anthony Ridao, Eduardo “Nonie” Lechonsito, Daryll Vincent delos Reyes.

Civilians: (In GMA Report) Mariam Calimbol, Jephon C. Cadagdagon, Joellito Evardo, Cecile Lechonsito; (In INQ.net list) Patricia Palapay.

*[NOTE: There were six names of journalists in the INQ.net list that I had to reconcile with the names in the Report. One of them was “Romeo Capelo” of “Midland Review”, Tacurong City” that I decided to be “Jimmy Cabello” of “Media/Midland Review” in the list. In the philstar.com report today (Dece. 17: “Mayor laughed as he gunned down pleading journalist”) the name is “Jimmy Cabillo” of Midland Review.]

Discrepancy

As reported – detailed in the MindaNews item above — there were 55 in the 5-vehicle convoy; three vehicles happened to be with the convoy, as found at the massacre site – a red Toyota Vios, an official car with five passengers; a Tamaraw FX owned and driven by Anthony Ridao; and a Pajero. Add: 55 plus 5 plus 1 equals 61 – more than 57. And the Pajero must have at least a driver. The discrepancy was very clear.

Inquirer.net published a partial list of 46 names with identities but it did not follow this up with a complete list similarly identified. The Arroyo Report to Congress said that of the “57 bodies found in the massacre site” 21 were women and 36 were men and only 55, as listed, “have been identified”. Were the President’s men and women aware of the Inquirer.net partial list? Were they aware of facts and figures given in media reports?

Had they been, they could have collated the Inquirer.net partial list, which must have come from an official source, and the official list given to them. Had they done this, they could have asked the police or military to verify the 65 names from the collated lists. The President should not report to Congress a tentative number.

Logical, Right

I’m certain, the prevailing thinking is this: “57” has been consistently used, so there were 57 massacre victims. But, between the “57” cumulative and tentative figure and the “65” specifically identified names, which must be correct?

[NOTE: Why is “57” cumulative and tentative? Police reported 46 bodies recovered on November 24 with 28 unidentified. Inquirer.net’s partial list on November 25 had 47 identified by names. This must be based on the police findings on the previous day; yet, the police stuck with “46” and on November 26, the number climbed to “57” with the recovery of 11 more. The number should have been “58” considering the Inquirer.net list figure of “47” More were expected to be found, the police said, as searches continued. Media reports occasionally used “at least 57”. After the CHR reported Momay to be missing, the number of journalists killed climbed to “31” but the “57” total remained. Related to the Inquirer.net partial list, the total should have become “59”. Is the discrepancy just to be ignored?]

The specific “65” corrects the cumulative “57”. If the “65” is wrong, correct it by naming the “57”. This is most logical. Is it necessary to name the “57”? Yes, in the name of justice, right and charity!

Is it right to name “65” as having been massacred but to consistently report “57” as the number of victims? Were eight names among the “65” wrongly entered? If so, identify them. It is not right to report them as dead if they are alive. If they were truly among the victims, it is not right to exclude them by reporting only “57”. In fact, it is also unjust and uncharitable.

Obligation

It is understandable if official police reports contain discrepancies. But should editors and reporters perpetuate or should they correct the discrepancies? If they are true to their pledge to uphold truth, justice, and rights they must.

What can they do? That means correcting official police reports.

The “65” are named. Editors in Tacurong City, Koronadal City, General Santos City and Davao City should see the families of the named and identified victims from their cities. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star, the ABS-CBN News, the GMANews-TV and other Manila based newspapers and televisions should do the same through their correspondents.

The main and real purpose is not to prove correct or incorrect the “65” or the “57” but to come out with a true list – the number notwithstanding – of victims correctly named and identified in the name of truth, justice and rights. The “65” or “57” are people, not animals or stones.

(”Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. The Titus Brandsma Media Awards recently honored Mr. Diaz with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate.” You can reach him atpatpdiazgsc@yahoo.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )