Esmael Mangudadatu
| Esmael Mangudadatu | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Maguindanao | |
|
Assumed office June 30, 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Nariman Ambolodto |
| Vice Mayor of Buluan, Maguindanao | |
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In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010 |
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| Mayor of Buluan, Maguindanao | |
|
In office 2003–2007 |
|
| Member of the Maguindanao Provincial Board | |
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In office 2003–2003 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1968 |
| Political party |
Lakas Kampi CMD (until 2011) Liberal Party (2011–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu (d. November 23, 2009) |
| Relations | Father: Pua Mangudadatu Uncle: Pax Mangudadatu |
| Residence | Buluan, Maguindanao |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu (or Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu) (b. August 15, 1968) is the Governor of Maguindanao, in the Philippines. Mangudadatu was elected for governor of Maguindanao after defeating his closest rival, Ombra Sinsuat by a margin of 12,705 votes. The race came to international attention after the 2009 Maguindanao massacre during which his wife, sisters, aides, and lawyers, plus several journalists were kidnapped and murdered. Andal Ampatuan, Jr., against whom Mangudadatu was running for Governor, wasव charged with the murders. He denies that he was involved.
Esmael 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.
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, from the Ilongga clan, while they were both students in Davao City, Mindanao. They married on November 11, 1991. Starting a family after getting married cut his medical studies short but even after having many children he earned his Political Science degree from the University of Mindanao in Davao City.
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. He was elected and became a provincial board member. He went on to become Mayor of Buluan and after he reached his term limit became Vice Mayor. In 2009 he decided to challenge the Ampatuan clan's heir apparent in the election for governor of Maguindanao province.
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,"
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