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2009-11-23 Southeast Asia

Philippine Government vows justice for massacre

THE Philippines government has expressed outrage and vowed justice following the gruesome killings of 21 people who were among a group of politicians and journalists abducted in the troubled south.

"This is a gruesome massacre of civilians unequalled in recent history," said Jess Dureza, President Gloria Arroyo's adviser on the strife-torn southern region of Mindanao where the murders took place.

"There must be a total stop to this senseless violence. I strongly recommend that a state of emergency be imposed in the area and everyone be disarmed. Anything less will not work."

Arroyo's adviser on political affairs, Gabriel Claudio, expressed similar sentiments.

"We're in shock and in total outrage," Mr Claudio said.

"Justice will be served and the perpetrators punished, whoever they are."

The victims were among a group of about 40 journalists and local officials who were kidnapped on Monday morning by armed men in Maguindanao province.

The military said the others remained unaccounted for, but operations were under way to find them in a hinterland area.

The journalists were accompanying the wife of Esmael Mangudadatu and his supporters to file his candidacy for governorship of the mostly Muslim southern province of Maguindanao in next year's national elections.

They were stopped at a roadside checkpoint and forcibly taken to a hinterland area by men with links to the incumbent governor Andal Ampatuan, the military said.

The Mangudadatu clan is known to have a long-running feud with the family of Ampatuan, who police say is known to control his own private army. Members of the Ampatuan family were unreachable.

Posted by tipper 2009-11-23 10:14|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [277 views ] Top

#1 Uh, uh, MONTAGUES + CAPULETS {Shakespeare's R & J]???

THE BARD'S END SCENE > "ALL ARE PUNISHED", iff Commies + Radical Islam, etal. insurgents succeed in breaking up the Philippines come Year 2020 or shortly after???

Posted by JosephMendiola">JosephMendiola 2009-11-23 18:00|| na]">[na] 2009-11-23 18:00|| Front Page Top

23:52 USN, Ret.
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