The Episcopal Church of the Philippines has called for swift government action in prosecuting those responsible for the election-related massacre of 57 people in the Philippine province of Maguindanao on the southern island of Mindanao.<\/p>\n
The murder of 57 people by gunmen was \u201ctotally unacceptable, unlawful, unjust, and inhuman,\u201d\u009d the Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Philippines said.<\/p>\n
On Nov 23 a convoy of six vehicles left the town of Buluan proceeding to the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak. The vice-mayor of Buluan, Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu had invited 37 journalists to accompany his family and campaign workers to cover his filing of papers in the provincial capital to stand for election as governor.<\/p>\n
Andal Ampatuan Jr, son of the outgoing governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr., and a candidate for election to his father\u2019s post, allegedly threatened Mangudadatu — the scion of a rival political clan — with death if he contested the governor\u2019s position. The presence of the journalists and his family, Mangudadatu believed, would prevent attempts at blocking the filing of candidacy papers.<\/p>\n