As outrage mounted, eventually Ampatuan Jr. turned himself in, in hopes of quieting the uproar. But as politicians denounced the killers as “monsters,” soon journalists were producing reams of investigative reports on warlordism in Mindanao. What they showed is that all the national political dynasties were hooked up to all the feuding clans in the South. Ampatuan Sr. had run the province of Maguindanao with an iron hand since 2001, “as father, grandfather, uncle, and in-law to at least 10 mayors, vice mayors, and other local officials in the province” (Newsbreak, 26 November).
Subalit kung tutuusin, habang tinawag na mga “halimaw” ng mga pulitiko ang gumawa ng masaker, at naglipana ang mga investigative reports tungkol sa warlordism sa Mindanao, ipinakita ng nasabing insidente kung gaano kalalim ang kuneksyon ng pambansang pulitikal na dinastiya ni Arroyo sa mga warlord sa Mindanao tulad ng mga Ampatuan na pinamamahalaan ang buong Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ng kamay na bakal noon pang 2001, “bilang lolo, ama, tiyuhin at biyenan ng higit-kumulang 10 mayor, vice-mayor, at iba pang lokal na opisyal sa probinsya” (Newsbreak, Nobyembre 26). Iniluklok si Ampatuan Sr. ng nakalipas na pangulo, at kinapipitagan ng uring burgesya at ng simbahan na siCory Aquino.