'Reporters joined ill-fated convoy despite warnings'

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the media joined the ill-fated Mangudadatu convoy despite several text messages warning them against pushing through with the trip that ultimately led to their slaughter on Nov. 23 in Maguindanao province, a prosectution witness in the massacre trial said today.

This was revealed by Khadaffy Mangudadatu, brother of now Maguindanao Gov. Toto Mangudadatu, as the former took the witness stand during the resumption of the multiple murder case at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court today.

"Why should we be afraid, we will just file a COC (certificate of candidacy)? We will not create any trouble," Mangudadatu quoted reporters as saying before leaving his house for the Commission on Elections office where they were supposed to lodge Toto's COC for Maguindanao governor.

According to Khadaffy, one of the text messages said armed men were already stationed along the highway going to Shariff Aguak to block the Mangudadatu convoy. He was the one who organized reporters based in Maguindanao for a scheduled press conference after the supposed filing of the COC.

Khadaffy, an assemblyman of the second district of Maguindanao, also testified that he felt helpless after receiving initial reports that the Mangudadatu convoy was waylaid.

The bodies of the victims were later discovered by Ibrahim "Jong" Mangudadatu, one of Khadaffy's brothers, who used a helicopter to scour the massacre site at Sitio Masalay, Brgy. Salman, Maguindanao, for his relatives.

Among those killed in the carnage were Bai Jennalyn, Toto's wife; and Bai Eden and Farina' Toto's sisters.

Members of Ampatuan clan, considered to be the chief political rivals of the Mangudadatus, are among the suspects in the massacre.