Magdalo Group Explained

Magdalo Group
Other Name:Bagong Katipuneros
(lit. New Katipuneros)
Country:Philippines
Leader:Antonio Trillanes IV
Dates:c. –
Successor:Samahang Magdalo
Motives:Overthrow of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Position:Right-wing to far-right
Attacks:

The Magdalo Group was a group of dissident soldiers who staged the unsuccessful Oakwood mutiny. Made up of junior officers of all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the group took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati and demanded the resignation of senior officers in the AFP and members of the Arroyo government, including the President herself. The group called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"[1] (Filipino, "New Katipuneros"), but the local press continued referring to them as the Magdalo Group.

On August 30, 2007, the Philippine National Police went on alert against an alleged Magdalo recruitment try in Bicol, targeting the Army's 9th Infantry Division. The effort was supposedly related to alleged destabilization efforts planned for the forthcoming promulgation by the Sandiganbayan on the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada.[2]

Offshoot groups

After the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, members of the Magdalo group shifted towards civic work.

Samahang Magdalo

See main article: Samahang Magdalo. The Samahang Magdalo is a civilian volunteer group launched by the Magdalo Group in 2008. The group uses social networking websites such as Friendster and Facebook to recruit supporters across the Philippines.[3]

Magdalo Party-list

The Samahang Magdalo established the Magdalo Party-List and sought party-list representation in the House of Representatives.

Notes and References

  1. News: Laurel . Herman T . Small setback... . The Daily Tribune . February 22, 2006 . August 10, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020715/http://www.tribune.net.ph/20060222/commentary/20060222com5.html . September 28, 2007.
  2. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/58388/PNP-on-alert-vs-Magdalo-recruitment-in-Bicol GMA NEWS.TV, PNP on alert vs 'Magdalo' recruitment try in Bicol
  3. News: Uy . Jocelyn . Magdalo recruits civilians online . Inquirer.net . November 29, 2008 . July 31, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081202072053/http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20081129-175051/Magdalo-recruits-civilians-online . December 2, 2008 . dead .