Police recover bodies at the mass grave site of a political execution,
Tuesday November 24, 2009.
The number of deaths in the political slayings which occurred in the southern Philippines on Monday has increased to 46, and Philippine officials state the number may increase. A state of emergency has been declared for the two southern provinces by President Gloria Arroyo in an attempt to facilitate the capture of the gunmen by police. The President also ordered extra troops to the region to help with the search.
According to Reuters, Philippine Secretary of the Interior Ronaldo Puno expected arrests to be made soon, within a couple of days. He stated, “We have some information about specific names, not just those who ordered this thing, but also those who committed it.”
The shootings were done at close range, and the graves were shallow, indicating a fast pace to the massacre and cover-up.
On Monday, approximately 100 armed gunmen kidnapped a group of people, including the wife of a candidate who was running for a governor’s office. The adduction and slayings took place in the southern Philippines province of Maguindanao.
Among the dead was Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, who was in the process of going to file her husband’s nomination to run in the May 2010 election for the seat of governor against the sitting governor Datu Andal Ampatuan. Ismael Mangudadatu is the local mayor of the town of Buluan. In addition, many lawyers, political aides, and journalists were in the group accompanying her. Twelve of the victims were reporters.
Copyright © 2009 by Raymond Gellner
Comments
The government of the Philippines should focus this case of maguindanao and give full support for justice.
if justice turns well the suspects should be punish for death wathever power it takes. kamatayan ang dapat sa kanya walang kaluluwa at konsyensya magdudusa din sia. ang kasamaan ay hindi nagwawagi lagi sa kabutihan.
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