Front Line is deeply saddened by the murder of human rights lawyers Ms Concepcion 'Connie' Brizuela and Ms Cynthia Oquendo in the Maguindanao Massacre, which took place on 23 November 2009 in Mindanao Province. At least 57 people are reported to have been killed. Both women were members of the Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM). Concepcion Brizuela was also UPLM's treasurer and a member of its Executive Committee.