The Maguindanao Massacre free essay sample

This study aimed to answer the following questions. What is the present situation of the peace and order in the Philippines particularly in Maguindanao? What are the actions made by the government to the following: Persons affected by the massacre To the place itself (Maguindanao) What are the effects of Maguindanao Massacre to the tourism industry? The researchers used a descriptive method as the study refers to the data analysis that will be applied to it and they’ve gathered data that describe events, tabulate describes the data collection. Since qualitative approach was used the researchers gathered more information using the help of internet, television radio news reports and some reliable news papers. They’ve selected a certain group of officials that are involved to the incident and gave them survey questions which were discussed and tabulated to get a uniform set of results in order to get all needed and useful information about the study. The survey was conducted with a minimum of 100 people from DOT, PNP, AFP Hotels in Manila and some selected airlines in the Philippines. Each of them was given 20 survey questionnaires in order to have a determined and broad perspective on the development of the study. CONCLUSION 1. On the study regarding Maguindano massacre, the present situation of the peace and order in Maguindanao is that the people and the place itself still needs additional assistance. 2. The result on the study made by the researchers on what are the actions made by the government to the persons affected and to the place itself, Maguindanao, is the declaration of martial law but then people were not satisfied by the actions made by the government. People believe that the rules should be revise to prevent such incident. 3. The effects of Maguindanao massacre to the Tourism Industry are the cancellations of bookings in Airline and Hotels, the travel advisory not to visit the Philippines. One of the biggest impacts is the decrease in foreign investment. Some foreigners don’t want to make up their business here in the Philippines because they think that they will only get losses. Since our country was also declared as second most dangerous countries for journalists. RECOMMENDATION: To the government: The government should not be biased and should give the appropriate punishment for the responsible for the massacre. The law should be enforced and should be strengthened. They should give more protection to the media men and journalists like giving them escort especially to the most dangerous places scene. To prevent such crime, the law especially in Maguindanao should be revised and they must add military support to maintain peace and order. To the people of Maguindanao: To the people of Maguindanao especially to the family of the victims, now that such incident occurred, they should open their minds and not be blinded by powerful politicians that do not deserve to be elected. The people should work hand in hand to improve the peace and order in their place and for the state of calamity to be lifted. In that way, they can encourage other people especially the tourists, to visit their place again and to give back the pride and beauty that Maguindanao used to have. To the next researcher: Study the topic to be able to give clear answer. The researchers focused on the Maguindanao massacre history and its effect to the tourism industry. They therefore recommend the next researchers to study the justice that should be given to the victims and their families as well as improving the Philippines reputation on being declared as the second most dangerous country. The next researchers can also investigate through their surveys if they think that Ampatuan is really guilty for the said crime. They can focus on the appropriate punishment that should be given to the people who are responsible as well. Key informant will also help the study to have more information by interviewing the officials and residents that are related to the Maguindanao massacre. TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedicationi Acknowledgementii Abstractiii Table of Contentsvi List of Table and Graphviii Chapter – I Introduction1 Statement of the Problem1 Conceptual Framework2 Significance of the Study3 Scope and Delimitation4 Definition of Terms4 Chapter II – Review of Related Literature The Maguindanao History and its Government 5 The Maguindanao Massacre8 Effect of Maguindanao Massacre to the Tourism Industry18 Chapter III – Methodology Research Design19 Research Method19 Respondents of the Study20 Research Process21 Chapter IV – Presentation of Data and Analysis Respondents Profile23 Graph, Table and Analysis of the Survey Questions 26 Result37 Chapter V – Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation Summary38 Conclusion39 Recommendation40 Bibliography42 Appendix A45 Appendix B46 Appendix C47 The Respondents Profile Graph and Table No. 1 Age Graph and Table No. 2 Gender Graph and Table No. 3 Occupation Table and Graph from question 1 10 Graph and Table no. 1 The present situation of the peace and order in Maguindanao Graph and Table no. 2 Number of people who heard about the Maguindanao massacre Graph and Table no. 3 People feel about the Maguindanao massacre Graph and Table no. 4 The roles of the government to maintain peace and order in Maguindanao Graph and Table no. 5 Actions made by the government in order to attain peace and order in Maguindanao Graph and Table no. 6 The satisfaction of people to the actions taken by the government Graph and Table no. 7 Possible actions should be done if the answer is no Graph and Table no. 8 The citizens felt about the Maguindanao massacre Graph and Table no. 9 Number of people who answered if they were affected by Maguindanao massacre Graph and Table no. 10 Effects of the Maguindanao massacre in the Tourism Industry CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Introduction Peace and order is one of the indispensable components that must be in place to boost Domestic and International Tourism, without it there can no be successful Tourism Industry. While Maguindanao province is part of Mindanao which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or (ARMM), and located far away from Luzon and Visayas it does affect the Tourism Industry as a result of the massacre of more than 60 civilian including 30 journalist or media men there by getting worldwide attention particularly the International Media Institution. This incident as well as the subsequent imposition of Martial Law in the Maguindanao province create a very negative image of violence and absence of peace and order in Mindanao unparticular and the rest of the country as a whole that said, potential Foreign Tourist that would like to visit the Philippines is discourage much more loss interest or enthusiasm to visit our country. Statement of the Problem: This study aimed to answer the following questions. What is the present situation of the peace and order in the Philippines particularly in Maguindanao? What are the actions made by the government to the following: Persons affected by the massacre To the place itself (Maguindanao) What are the effects of Maguindanao Massacre to the tourism industry? Conceptual Framework Tourism industry players in the Philippines are now working double time to control the damage done on the image of out country by the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao. The massacre, which killed 57 people, including journalists and unarmed women, took place in the town of Ampatuan last November 23, 2009 and has taken center stage on both local and international news in and out of the country. Effects of the massacre on the tourism industry have reportedly been immediately felt. There have been cancellations made on both hotel bookings and flights to the country. If we will not handle the situation properly, it might snowball negatively into something bigger. There is a need for a concerted effort to clear the image of the Philippines, especially in Southern Mindanao; we must divert the attention of our tourists and investors to the more positive side and issues of our country and not from what has occurred in Maguindanao. Significance of the Study We are all aware of the mass execution happened in Maguindanao. This study will help us to know the present situation of the peace and order in Maguindanao. Also the impact o us to investigate and be alert of what’s happening in the following cases: One, the creation of a commission outside the government to investigate the crime; Two, the arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in it in any way, as murderers themselves or their protectors; Three, the formation of a special court to try the case; Four, fully guaranteed protection for the witnesses; Five, the disarming and dismantling of all private armies, such as those evidently employed in the massacre. Six, the enlistment of persons of unquestioned probity in the whole process; And finally, the resignation of the government if it fails to deliver such basic satisfaction – indeed, the very same government that has encouraged, by partisanship and conspiracy, the culture of impunity of which the massacre has been the most abominable manifestation. Scope and Delimitation The Maguindanao mass killing that includes 57 people has become the worst case of media and political cruelty in the world history. It is just because the government tolerates the armed groups for a long time. Regarding to the tolerated loose firearms resulting to mass killings, full implementation of the law, is most for a good government. With the full implementation of the law, abusive in power can do nothing. It has been easy for us to gather information about the mass killing since the incident was recent. Internet, newspaper and news on television had helped us to complete our study which is the Maguindanao Massacre also known as the Ampatuan Massacre. The Ampatuan Massacre had happen November 2009. Definition of Terms The following words are defined for a better understanding in the study: Peace the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships and, in world matters,  peacetime; a state of being absent of any  war  or conflict. Peace and order – its objective was to end and settle the armed conflict, it provides the establishment of autonomy for Muslims in Mindanao within the realm of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines. Tourism industry those sectors which enable the tourist to travel to and from the destination or the he human component of tourism. Political power is a type of  power  held by a  group  in a  society  which allows administration of some or all of public resources, including labor, and wealth. Political dynasty This hits both administration and opposition officials who ignore the democratic value of equal access to opportunities for public service at the national and local level. The Maguindanao History and its Government Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south. A. 1 Geography of Maguindanao Maguindanao is composed of 36 municipalities, which are further subdivided into 492 barangays. Cotabato City is often grouped with Maguindanao, but it actually independent from the province. The p rovince is divided into two congressional districts. In October 2006, the first congressional district was split off into a new province, Shariff Kabunsuan. However, the ARMMs Act creating the province was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2008, on the basis that creation of a province is a function of the Philippine legislature. The area has since reverted to the province of Maguindanao. A. 2 Government of Maguindano Maguindanao is divided into two congressional districts, which elect members to the House of Representatives. For the brief period that the province of Shariff Kabunsuan existed, Maguindanao became a lone-district province. Since the appointment of a new set of provincial officials for the reunified province of Maguindanao by the ARMM Governor in January 2009, the provincial government has reverted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan setup (coterminous with the restored 1st and 2nd Congressional districts of Maguindanao) from before Shariff Kabunsuan was created. Having elected to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Maguindanao also sends six representatives (three per district) to the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly that convenes in Cotabato City. A. History of Maguindanao Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan of Johore introduced Islam in the area at the end of the 15th century. He subsequently married a local princess from the Iranun Tribe of Malabang and Maguindanao Province, and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Cotabato Valley formed the sultanates heartland but its influence extended from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Sarangani Bay and Davao. The Spaniards launched expeditions to subdue the area throughout the colonial era but they never gained control of the region until the middle of the 19th century. During the American period, Cotabato became a district of the Moro Province created in 1903 and a province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914. In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces entered what is now Maguindanao. In 1945, Maguindanao was liberated by allied Philippine Commonwealth troops and Maguindanaoan guerrilla units after defeating the Japanese Imperial forces in the Battle of Maguindanao during the Second World War. The old province of Cotabato was divided in 1966 into Cotabato and South Cotabato. In 1973, the successor province of Cotabato was split into the provinces of Maguindanao, (North) Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. Maguindanao is the only Muslim-majority province of the four created out of the original Cotabato Province. In 1989, majority of its voters opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but Cotabato City did not, which, ironically, has since served as the provisional capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). On October 31, 2006, Maguindanao voters approved the creation of a new province to be composed of 10 towns from the province. Of more than 500,000 voters registered, 285,372 favored the creation of the province, and 8,802 voted against it. The new province, Shariff Kabunsuan, became the countrys 80th province and the 6th in the ARMM. It was composed of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, Buldon, Matanog and Barira. However, in July 2008, the Supreme Court nullified the provinces creation, restoring its municipalities to Maguindanao. A. 4 2009 Election Violence in Maguindanao On November 23, 2009, a 2010 gubernatorial election caravan supporting Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, was attacked. Fifty-seven people were killed, including Mangudadatus wife and sisters, supporters, local journalists, and bystanders. On December 4, 2009 a number of homes belonging to the Ampatuan political family were raided in connection with the massacre. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao on December 5, 2009, Saturday morning. In a press conference past 7 am, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Proclamation No. 1959 declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatists. The declaration of martial law will lead to the arrests without warrants of other members of the Ampatuan family who have been linked to the November 23 massacre of 58 civilians. The Maguindanao Massacre The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre (after the town where the mass graves were found), 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, vice mayor of Buluan town. 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 Mangudadatus wife, his two sisters, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called the Maguindanao massacre the single deadliest event for journalists in history. At least 34 journalists are known to have died in the massacre. In a statement, CPJ executive director Joel Simon noted that the killings, appears to be single deadliest event for the press since 1992, when CPJ began keeping detailed records on journalist deaths. The CPJ further noted that, â€Å"Even as we tally the dead in this horrific massacre, our initial research indicates that this is the deadliest single attack on the press ever documented by CPJ. † Even before the Maguindanao massacre, the CPJ had labeled the Philippines the second most dangerous country for journalists, second only to Iraq. B. 1 Background of Maguindanao Massacre The Ampatuans had been in control of Magu indanao since 2001. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. came first into prominence when President Corazon Aquino appointed him as officer-in-charge of Maganoy (now Shariff Aguak) in 1986 right after the People Power Revolution. Aquino, having come into power via revolutionary means, replaced every locally-elected official with officers-in-charge, although the town of Maganoy was approached differently; the ageing mayor, Pinagayaw Ampatuan, was replaced by his vice mayor, Andal Sr. He won the 1988 local elections, then served for ten years. In the 1998 elections, Andal Sr. was elected as governor. Members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lists Andal Sr. , as a major ally in Mindanao. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan was the partys regional chairman. Andal Sr. the family patriarch, has been provincial governor since 1998; he has been elected thrice, unopposed. Eighteen of the mayors in Maguindanao belong to the clan. The elder Ampatuan attributed his popularity to popular support, adding Because I am so loved by the constituencies of the municipalities, they ask me to have my sons as representatives. In the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo w on 69% of Maguindanaos vote; three years later, the party-backed coalition scored a 12-0 sweep of the senatorial elections in the province. Unable to run for a third term, he is currently grooming his son, Andal, Jr. to succeed him as governor. With escalating tensions in the province, Arroyo, as head of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, mediated between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus (both are from the same party) to prevent election-related violence. Three meetings were held in mid-2009, with one meeting hosted by then Secretary of National Defense and current party chairman Gilberto Teodoro, who is running to succeed Arroyo as president. Arroyos adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio, disclosed that there was an initial agreement in principle that no Mangudadatu would contest Ampatuan Sr. s gubernatorial post. Two days before the incident, the mass grave was prepared using a backhoe emblazoned with the name of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. , and apparently owned by the Ampatuan family. B. 2 Maguindanao Massacre Attack Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu invited 37 journalists to cover the scheduled filing of his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections provincial office in Shariff Aguak. He said reports had reached him that his rivals had threatened to chop him into pieces once he filed his COC, and felt the presence of journalists would deter such an attack. A local report stated that at about 9:00 AM, a convoy of six vehicles carrying journalists, lawyers, and relatives of Vice Mayor Mangudadatu left Buluan to file his COC at the Comelec office in Shariff Aguak. The convoy is composed of six vehicles: four Toyota Grandia vans (one grey, one green, and two white) owned by the Mangudadatu family; and two media vehicles – a Pajero owned by DZRH broadcast journalist Henry Araneta and a Mitsubishi L-300 van owned by UNTV. There is a seventh vehicle, a Grandia boarded by mediamen. But it lags behind and decides to turn around once the passengers sense what is happening. There are two other vehicles that are not part of the convoy but happen to be traveling on the same highway: a red Toyota Vios and a light blue Toyota Tamaraw FX. The Vios has five passengers: Eduardo Lechonsito, a government employee who is bound for a hospital in Cotabato City after suffering a mild stroke Monday morning. He is with his wife Cecille, co-workers Mercy Palabrica and Daryll delos Reyes, and driver Wilhelm Palabrica. The FX is driven by Anthony Ridao, employee of the National Statistics Coordination Board, and son of Cotabato City councilor Marino Ridao. Before reaching its destination (about 10 km from Shariff Aguak, four on other versions), the convoy was stopped by 100 armed men, who abducted and later killed most or all of its members. There is evidence that at least five of the female victims, four of them journalists, were raped before being killed, while practically all of the women had been shot in their genitals and beheaded. Mangudadatus youngest sister and aunt were both pregnant at the time of their murders. In a text message sent by Mangudadatus wife to him, she identified the people that blocked their way as the men of Ampatuan Jr, and that he himself slapped her. The female victims were shot in their genitals, according to Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera. According to Mangudadatu, his wifes private parts were slashed four times, after which they fired a bullet into it. In addition, he said that They speared both of her eyes, shot both her breasts, cut off her feet, fired into her mouth. A backhoe located in the immediate vicinity of the carnage at Ampatuan town was identified as the instrument that was used to expediently dig the graves of the victims, including the vehicles. The perpetrators werent able to complete the job when a helicopter was spotted in the area. The backhoe, emblazoned with the name of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. , was later identified to belong to the Maguindanao provincial government. As of November 25, the death toll had risen to 57, as confirmed by Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna of the Philippine National Police. Reporters Without Borders announced that at least 12 of the victims were journalists, making this the deadliest such incident in the history of news media. The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines originally estimated that a total of 20 journalists were killed, including an undisclosed number of NUJP members. The Philippine Daily Inquirer later updated the number of journalists killed to 34. On November 24, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responded to the news of the massacre by declaring a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City. Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles called on the police to quickly identify the perpetrators of the massacre and disarm private armies. The Philippine Department of Justice created a panel of special prosecutors to handle cases arising from the massacre. B. 3 Aftermath of Maguindanao Massacre In the aftermath, Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato N. Joson said the massacre might affect, or even lead to the cancellation of, the scheduled 2010 presidential elections. Candidates in the election condemned the massacre. On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the executive committee of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD political party unanimously voted to expel three members of the Ampatuan family Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his two sons, Gov. Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. from the party for their alleged role in the Maguindanao massacre. An emergency meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was held in Pasig, during which the Ampatuans were stripped of their membership. On Thursday, November 26, 2009, Ampatuan Jr. surrendered to his brother Zaldy, was delivered to adviser to the peace process Jesus Dureza, then was flown to General Santos on his way to Manila, where he was taken to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters. Police in the Philippines charged Andal Ampatuan Jr. with murder. Ampatuan denied the charges, claiming that he was at the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak when the massacre took place. He instead blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), specifically Ombra Kato, as the mastermind, a charge the MILF dismissed as absurd. Mangudadatu successfully filed his certificate of candidacy at Shariff Aguak on November 27. He was accompanied by Lakas-Kampi-CMD chairman and presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro, along with a caravan of 50 vehicles, to ensure his safety. On December 4, 2009 a number of homes belonging to the Ampatuan political family were raided in connection with the massacre. List of Victims in Maguindanao Mangudadatus NameDescription Genalyn Tiamson-MangudadatuWife of Esmael Mangudadatu Eden MangudadatuMunicipal Vice Mayor of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao, sister of Esmael Mangudadatu. Rowena MangudadatuCousin of Esmael Mangudadatu Manguba MangudadatuAunt of Esmael Mangudadatu Faridah Sabdulah Farida MangudadatuYoungest sister of Esmael Mangudadatu Farina MangudadatuAnother sister of Esmael Mangudadatu Concepcion â€Å"Connie† Brizuela, 56Lawyer Cynthia Oquendo, 36Lawyer Catalino OquendoCynthia Oquendos Father Rasul DaudDriver of Sultan Kudarat Rep. Pax Mangudadatu Journalists Thirty-four journalists are known to have been abducted and killed in the massacre, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Only 25 have been positively identified so far. NameDescription Alejandro Bong Reblando, 53Manila Bulletin correspondent, a former Associated Press reporter Henry AranetaDZRH Correspondent based in General Santos City Napoleon â€Å"Nap† SalaysayDZRO manager Bartolome â€Å"Bart† MaravillaBombo Radyo Koronadal, South Cotabato Jhoy DojayGoldstar Daily Andy TeodoroMindanao Examiner Central Mindanao Inquirer reporter Ian SubangMindanao Focus, a General Santos-based weekly community newspaper Leah DalmacioMindanao Focus reporter Gina Dela CruzMindanao Focus reporter Maritess CablitasMindanao Focus reporter Neneng Montano Saksi weekly newspaper reporter Victor Nunez UNTV reporter McDelbert Macmac Arriola UNTV cameraman Jolito Evardo UNTV editor Daniel Tiamson UNTV driver Humberto Mumay Koronadal -based journalist Rey Merisco Koronadalbased -journalist Ronnie Perante Koronadalbased- journalist Jun Legarta Koronadalbased -journalist Val Cachuela Koronadal-based journalist Santos Jun Gatchalian Davao-based journalist Joel Parcon Freelance journalist Noel Decena Freelance journalist John Caniba Freelance journalist Art Betia Freelance journalist Ranie Razon Freelance journalist Archie Cancel Freelance journalist Fernanado Ferdz Mendoza Freelance driver Red Toyota Vios Number of casualties: 5. They were supposedly mistaken as part of the convoy. NameDescription Eduardo Lechonsito Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat government employee Cecille Lechonsito Wife of Eduardo Lechonsito Mercy Palabrica Co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito Daryll delos Reyes Co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito Wilhelm Palabrica Driver B. 4 Declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared martial law in Maguindanao, a senior Malacanang official announced Saturday. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President took the bold step in answer to the cries of the more than 50 victims of the massacre in Maguindanao last November 23. The Ampatuans, a powerful clan in the province, have been tagged as suspects in the killings and the crackdown on members of the family began with the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. , days after what has been considered as the worst election-related violence in the country. Condition of peace and order in Maguindanao has deteriorated to the extent that government mechanisms are not functioning thus endangering public safety . . Ermita said, reading from the proclamation. He said Malacanang would officially inform Congress about the proclamation, which Congress has 48 hours to act on. Also present was Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Victor Ibrado who said that Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao would give himself up to authorities there. He also said that they recom mended the declaration of martial law following a meeting of top security officials late Friday. Earlier on Saturday, Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. was arrested by the military. Ermita said the decision to declare martial law was reached at about 9 pm Friday. On Friday, authorities uncovered a cache of firearms near the house of the Ampatuan clan, the suspects in the massacre. Arroyo named Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer to take administrative control of Maguindanao province, according to Philippine Daily Inquirer sources. Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno confirmed placing Maguindanao under martial law was discussed in a National Security meeting Friday afternoon but said he was not aware if any action had been done to implement it â€Å"because I’m no longer there! â€Å"But there was no decision made,† Puno said in a telephone interview Friday night. â€Å"Ask Bert Gonzales,† Puno said, referring the Inquirer to Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales on whether Maguindanao had been already placed under military rule. The military Friday expressed surprise at how powerful weapons and thousands of bullets supposed to be kept in the government armory ended up virtually in the backyard of the Ampatuan clan. Wearing bulletproof vests, soldiers and police the other day dug up antitank weapons, assault rifles and machine guns from a vacant lot a few hundred meters from one of the houses of the Ampatuan family – a known political ally of President. Effect of Maguindanao Massacre to the Tourism Industry The Maguindanao massacre has a big effect to tourism industry. Since the Philippines was declared as the second most dangerous place for journalist. Though it only mention about the journalist, still it affects the whole industry. Some of the effects of the incident were on the following, losses expected to hit the other sectors, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII). Airlines drop in booking of flights going into the city and nearby provinces; although the figures were still unavailable from the other businesses in the city. Hotels lost 200 room nights since the news broke out. The full effect of the recession in the United States this year will likely be felt in Davao City in 2009, the chief of the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) revealed, adding that the export sector will be more affected by it. The private investment, the incident would also cause the suspension of new investments in public infrastructure and adversely affect the tourism industry. The scheduled 2010 presidential election to take place was also affected. Even the peace and order is affected. President GMA yesterday approved the recommendation of the cabinet cluster of the National Security Council to retain the state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat Cotobato City. Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said that the local government units in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat Cotobato City still need the assistance of the military in maintaining peace and order in the area, He also said that authorities considered the armed threat groups that still linger in strategic places in the region in keeping the state of emergency. Research Design The researchers used the descriptive type of method because it refers to the type of research question, design, and data analysis that will be applied to the study. The rese archers gathered data that describe events, tabulate and describes the data collection. Quantitative approach was used as the research design of the study because it involved collections of quantitative information such as surveys which was given to a certain group of people who are assigned to the incident and their answers were counted in a numerical form. The series of meetings were able to provide the researchers sufficient time to come up with inputs needed for the said study. They were able to coordinate each other’s ideas and information that they were able to gather from their different sources. Research Method The researchers gathered their data from the internet, television news report and reliable newspapers to further establish the present state of certain events. The survey method was used to obtain the needed information for this study which was distributed to those officials that are assigned for the said crime in Maguindanao that greatly affected the tourism industry in the Philippines. Thus, the formula below was used for this study: Where: P = percentage F = frequency N = total number of respondents C. Respondents of the Study The respondents of the study were the officials from The Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), selected Hotel in Manila and some selected Airlines in the Philippines. The researchers limit the respondents into 100 participants. Each group was given 20 survey questionnaires and all needed and useful information were discussed in order to have a determined and broad perspective on the development of the study. D. The Research Process StepsActions DoneDate First SegmentPreliminary Investigation Step 1Choosing a TopicNovember 25, 2009 Step 2Generating QuestionsDecember 2, 2009 Step 3Data GatheringDecember 14, 2009 Second SegmentData Gathering Step 1Preparing the Sources of InformationJanuary 6, 2010 Step 2Reading Articles and Watching news reports as well as radio reportsJanuary 11, 2010 Step 3Gathering all the prepared dataJanuary 15, 2010 Third SegmentData Review Step 1Data ClusteringJanuary 18, 2010 Step 2Data InvestigationJanuary 24, 2010 Step 3Data AnalysisJanuary 27, 2010 First Segment On the first part of the research process, the researchers agreed to create a topic that is greatly affecting the Philippine tourism as of today. After the topic was created, the researchers facilitated the questions needed to further discuss the scope and delimitation of the study. The materials and sources of information were then organized to solidify the data that will be gathered. Second segment On the second part of the research process, the researchers gathered their data from the television news reports, radio reports, articles from reliable news papers and the internet. Several reports have been made for the topic and the researchers were able to summarize all the needed information that is essential for the study.