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 , 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 . 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
Maguindanao massacre
Maguindanao massacre
Esmael Mangudadatu