Almost 60 dead in Philippines 'political' massacre
25/11/2009
Almost 60 people have been murdered in the Philippines in what is believed to be an attack motivated by politics.
The 57 individuals, whose bodies were found buried in mass graves in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, were on their way to file nomination papers for the country's forthcoming elections.
Among those that were discovered in the graves were the wife and two sisters of the political candidate Ismael Mangudadatu.
Of the dead, 18 were journalists or media workers, making the Philippines the most dangerous place on earth for reporters, according to the International Federation of Journalists.
"This is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on our nation," stated current president of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will haunt them until they are caught."
The next Philippine general elections are set to take place on May 10th 2010.
