21 killed in Philippines poll violence

MANILA, Monday

Gunmen killed at least 21 people in the southern Philippines today, apparently to prevent a woman from filing her husband’s nomination to run for provincial governor in May next year, the military said.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said the bodies of 13 women and eight men were found in the area where about 30 people were taken hostage.

Before troops got there

“We believe more bodies are buried,” Lt-Col Brawner said. “Unfortunately the killing happened before our troops got there.”

Other military officials said the dead included Mrs Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, who was on the way to file the nomination of her husband to contest the governorship of Maguindanao province against Datu Andal Ampatuan, the head of a powerful local family.

She was accompanied by two lawyers, several members of her family and some journalists.

The southern Philippines is riven by fierce clan rivalries, including one between the Mangudadatus and the Ampatuans. Many politicians and elected officials in the region maintain well equipped private armies.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s office promised quick action. “We are shocked and in total outrage,” Mr Gabriel Claudio, the president’s political adviser, said in a statement. “Justice will be served and the perpetrators punished whoever they are.”

Earlier, military officials had said about 100 armed men had stopped the Mangudadatu convoy at a police checkpoint on a highway and taken the victims to a remote mountainous area.

The election process for the May 2010 national polls began last week with the filing of candidacies for more than 17,800 national and local positions. (Reuters)