Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur
[3] Ampatuan was created out of 23 barrios of Datu Piang on 21 June 1959 by Republic Act No.[7] It further lost territory, when its electorate ratified on 3 January 2004, the separation of ten of its barangays to form the municipality of Datu Abdullah Sangki.The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town for the province's gubernatorial election.Mangudadatu was challenging Andal Ampatuan Jr. (son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., the mayor of Datu Unsay, and accused of leading the massacre) in the election.Poverty Incidence of Ampatuan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]