UPLM honors fallen lawyers, demands end to warlordism 16 years after Ampatuan massacre

ON the 16th anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre, the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) warned that the “entrenched system of impunity” that led to the slaughter of 58 people in 2009 has not been dismantled but has instead evolved into the massive corruption scandals currently plaguing the nation.

In a statement released this evening, Nov. 23, the UPLM marked the commemoration by honoring the victims, specifically paying tribute to their colleagues, Atty. Connie Brizuela and Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, who were among those killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.  

A system unchecked

The lawyers’ group, which provides legal aid to the marginalized in Mindanao, drew a sharp line between the warlordism of the past and modern state corruption.

“The massacre and the massive corruption are fruits from the same poisonous tree,” the UPLM statement reads. 

The group argued that the mechanism used by political dynasties to silence dissent — fascist tactics and the weaponization of state power — remains active. 

They cited the red-tagging of activists and legal practitioners as evidence that the “culture of entitlement and unaccountability” persists more than a decade and a half later.  

Honoring the fallen counsels

The commemoration was particularly poignant for the legal community in Mindanao. 

The UPLM paid special tribute to Atty. Connie Brizuela, a founding member and treasurer of the organization, described her as a “legal warrior for the marginalized.”  

The group also recalled the final moments of Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, who was killed alongside her father, Catalino Oquendo. 

The UPLM highlighted her desperate text messages sent during the ambush — “Kidnap me with tatay... Many people killed, I'm next” — which later served as crucial evidence in convicting the masterminds of the crime.  

Her final act of bearing witness from the massacre site itself stands as a powerful testament to her bravery,” the group stated.  

Demands for justice

Sixteen years on, the UPLM issued four key demands:

Full Accountability: Beyond the conviction of the principals, the group demands the resolution of all pending cases related to the massacre. 

End to Dynasties: A call to dismantle private armies and political dynasties that "suffocate democracy."  

Systemic Overhaul: A complete change to the systems that allow power to corrupt with impunity.  

Continued Resistance: A vow to continue providing legal defense for the poor despite threats.  

“We will use the law to challenge both the bullet and the bribe,” the UPLM vowed.