At least 21 die in Philippines as gun attack riddles convoy
Source: Agencies |
November 24, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DOZENS of gunmen hijacked a convoy carrying journalists, and family and supporters of a candidate for provincial governor, killing at least 21 of the travelers in the southern Philippines' worst political violence in years.
There was no claim of responsibility for the bloodshed in the predominantly Muslim region wracked by political tensions between rival clans.
The convoy of vans carrying about 40 people was hijacked in Maguindanao Province, about 900 kilometers south of Manila, and army troops later found the bullet-riddled bodies of 13 women and eight men, regional military commander Major General Alfredo Cayton said.
It was unclear if anyone survived the attack. An army and police search is under way for the other hostages.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said at least 10 local reporters were part of the convoy. Their organizations failed to reach them, leading them to conclude they, too, were killed.
"Never in the history of journalism has the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day," Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
"The frenzied violence of thugs working for corrupt politicians has resulted in incomprehensible bloodshed."
The politician, Ismael Mangudadatu, was not in the convoy and said his wife called him by mobile phone just before the attack.
"She said they were stopped by 100 uniformed armed men, then her line got cut off," he said, adding that his wife and relatives were among the dead.
Victims' relatives blamed political rivals in national elections slated for next May.
Philippine elections are particularly violent in the south because of armed groups, including Muslim rebels fighting for self-rule in the mainly Catholic nation, and political warlords who maintain private armies.
'Senseless'
The decades-long Muslim insurgency has killed about 120,000 people since the 1970s. But a presidential adviser, Jesus Dureza, said yesterday's massacre was "unequaled in recent history."
"There must be a total stop to this senseless violence," he said, recommending a state of emergency in the area to disarm all gunmen.
Also in the convoy were Mangudadatu's two sisters, followers and several local journalists. They were traveling to nearby Shariff Aguak township to file Mangudadatu's nomination papers for the position of governor of Maguindanao Province.
Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan township, accused political rivals belonging to a prominent clan for the massacre. Representatives of that family did not respond.
Army troops are on full alert in Maguindanao to prevent retaliatory killings.
There was no claim of responsibility for the bloodshed in the predominantly Muslim region wracked by political tensions between rival clans.
The convoy of vans carrying about 40 people was hijacked in Maguindanao Province, about 900 kilometers south of Manila, and army troops later found the bullet-riddled bodies of 13 women and eight men, regional military commander Major General Alfredo Cayton said.
It was unclear if anyone survived the attack. An army and police search is under way for the other hostages.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said at least 10 local reporters were part of the convoy. Their organizations failed to reach them, leading them to conclude they, too, were killed.
"Never in the history of journalism has the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day," Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
"The frenzied violence of thugs working for corrupt politicians has resulted in incomprehensible bloodshed."
The politician, Ismael Mangudadatu, was not in the convoy and said his wife called him by mobile phone just before the attack.
"She said they were stopped by 100 uniformed armed men, then her line got cut off," he said, adding that his wife and relatives were among the dead.
Victims' relatives blamed political rivals in national elections slated for next May.
Philippine elections are particularly violent in the south because of armed groups, including Muslim rebels fighting for self-rule in the mainly Catholic nation, and political warlords who maintain private armies.
'Senseless'
The decades-long Muslim insurgency has killed about 120,000 people since the 1970s. But a presidential adviser, Jesus Dureza, said yesterday's massacre was "unequaled in recent history."
"There must be a total stop to this senseless violence," he said, recommending a state of emergency in the area to disarm all gunmen.
Also in the convoy were Mangudadatu's two sisters, followers and several local journalists. They were traveling to nearby Shariff Aguak township to file Mangudadatu's nomination papers for the position of governor of Maguindanao Province.
Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan township, accused political rivals belonging to a prominent clan for the massacre. Representatives of that family did not respond.
Army troops are on full alert in Maguindanao to prevent retaliatory killings.
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