MANILA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The hope for finding survivors from one of the Philippines' worst killings is fading as rescuers on Wednesday discovered three more bodies from a shallow mass grave, pushing up the death toll of Monday's massacre to 49.
Ibrahim Magundadatu, Buluan town mayor of Maguindanao province, told local television that the latest victims are all male. The bodies were unearthed from the same hillside grave in Amputuan town where 25 bodies were recovered Tuesday.
Local residents carry a body of a victim recovered at the scene of a massacre of a political clan in the southern township of Ampatuan in Maguindanao, the Philippines, Nov. 24, 2009. The province of Maguindanao has been placed under a state of emergency after some 46 people were killed on 23 November in the worst-ever election related violence in the country. (Xinhua/Stringer) Photo Gallery>>>
Local television network ABS-CBN reported that one of the latest massacre victims wore a "UNTV" T-shirt. The body was dug up along with a maroon Toyota Vios, which has been reported missing since Monday.
Around 100 militiamen ambushed a convoy of 51 journalists, lawyers, and supporters of Buluan town vice mayor Esmail Mangudadatu en route to register him as candidate for the provincial governor post in next year's election. They were herded away from the main road and shot or hacked to death.
National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina told media that initial investigation reports indicated that the group responsible for the execution was led by the mayor of Datu Unsay -- Andal Ampatuan Jr, the archrival of Mangudadatu in next year's provincial election. His father, Andal Ampatuan Sr, is three-time governor of Maguindanao and owns a considerable size ofprivate army, police said.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has placed Maguindanao and two neighboring areas under the emergency rule -- which gives security forces more freedom to arrest and detain suspects. But still no arrests were made by Wednesday noon.
A bulldozer works to recover the bodies of victims at the scene of a massacre of a political clan in the southern township of Ampatuan in Maguindanao, the Philippines, Nov. 24, 2009. (Xinhua/Stringer) Photo Gallery>>>
Mayor Magundadatu earlier said that the only four survivors from the massacre were with him but it is not yet confirmed by national authorities.
Bai Fatima Sinsuat, a senior local Red Cross official, said victims were brutally killed and, based on information of Red Cross personnel, some female victims were raped.
Through his spokesman, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he is saddened by the reports of the brutal killing of more than 40 civilians.
The U.N. chief said he hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said that she condemns in the strongest possible terms the barbaric killing of innocent civilians who were preparing to participate in the electoral process in the Philippines.
Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines said the massacre was a "chilling prelude" to the crucial 2010 presidential, congressional and local elections and erodes the public's sense of security and confidence on law enforcers.
It also described the death of at least 13 local reporters who followed the convoy "the heaviest loss of lives for the Philippine media" in a single day and comes on the heels of a series of many unsolved killings of Filipino journalists in recent years.
MANILA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government placed part of the restive southern region under emergency rule on Tuesday as police and soldiers dug up more bodies in a hilly mass grave, bringing the death toll of one of the country's worst election-related killings to 46. Full story
BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday condemned the hostage killing in southern Philippines which left at least 37 people dead.
"We are shocked by the incident. We denounce it and extend our sincere sympathy to the families of the victims," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press briefing. Full story
