Senator Loren Legarda condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent killing of 57 people, including a number of women and media personnel, by a powerful clan in Maguindanao province.
The details of the Maguindanao massacre indicates it could be the first major election-related violence in the country, as it involves two rival political clans.
The victims are said to be members and supporters of the Mangudadatu clan who were on their way to the Provincial Capitol to file a certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections. They were accompanied by media people who were asked to cover the event. They were waylaid by about 100 armed men believed to be followers of the Ampatuan clan and subsequently killed in a brutal and barbaric manner, with some of the victims even decapitated.
"I call on authorities to fully investigate this incident and to bring to justice not only the perpetrators but also the masterminds as soon as possible. No one should be above the law. This is heinous and reprehensible crime that deserves the maximum penalty the laws provide.
I urge the government to put in place adequate measures to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in Maguindanao and other areas where intense political rivalries could erupt into violence and bloodshed. The proposal to impose a total gun ban during the election campaign period is fundamentally sound and should substantially reduce the number of election-related violent incidents in the months ahead. /MP
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