Maguindanao 2nd District Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu is forever thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte who helped him to find the victims of the Ampatuans in 2009.
It can be remembered that family members of Mangudadatu were included to the 58 victims of the Ampatuan clan after he decided to run against former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in the gubernatorial elections.
In an interview with DZMM, Mangudadatu narrated how President Duterte, who was the Mayor of Davao City during that time, offered his assistance to him to find his family who buried by the Ampatuans in a remote area in Maguindanao.
According to him, Duterte helped him to borrow a chopper to conduct aerial reconnaissance which resulted in the discovery of the mass grave where the his family members, supporters and 32 media practitioners were buried as an attempt of the Ampatuans to hide the incident.
“Kung hindi nagpahiram si Mayor Duterte noon, si Presidente, halos walang traces na makita,” said Mangudadatu.
In another interview, Mangudadato revealed that President Duterte promised to him that he would end the Ampatuan case before his term ends.
PANOORIN: Maguindanao Rep. "Toto" Mangudadatu sa pahayag umano ni Pangulong Duterte na tuldukan na ang #MaguindanaoMassacre case sa kanyang termino | via @jaymarkdagala pic.twitter.com/ELxltjgLhB
— DWIZ Newscenter (@dwiz882) December 19, 2019
Yesterday, after one decade, eight members of the Ampatuan clan were found guilty and sentenced to a maximum of 40 years of detention.
It includes Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan, Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, and Datu Anwar, Sr. who were brought to the national penitentiary after the promulgation of judgment.