On November 23, 2009, the entourage of the wife of Buluan, Maguindanao vice-mayor Esmael Mangudadatu who ran for provincial governor, including journalists, were abducted and killed in the province's town of Ampatuan. Before she was killed, Mangudadatu's wife blamed provincial governor Andal Ampatuan Jr. as the culprit.
On November 23, 2009, Esmael Mangudadatu's wife, who was running for provincial governor in Maguindanao, and her entourage, including journalists, were abducted and killed in Ampatuan town. Prior to her demise, she accused Andal Ampatuan Jr., the provincial governor, of being the perpetrator.