Maguindanao had seen the worst case of political linked killing in its history when 60 people were massacred last Monday on their way to the Election Commission in Shariff Aguak. The party was composed of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu’s women family members along with media members and supporters. The team was dispatched to file the candidacy of the Vice Mayor to the gubernatorial race, which is still held by his long-time rival Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. As of posting, 52 of the bodies were already recovered. There are 4 more missing and another 4 in the custody of the authorities.
The families of these two political dynasties have already been involved in family exchanged killings in the past and until now, they are still at large. Maybe there are no compelling evidences because most locals are afraid to be associated with any of these families. They are known to retain armed body guards and even private armies, and yet, it seems they are not being held liable for that. Is that how democracy works in the Philippines?
The thing that stunned me the most is that the armed supporters of the Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr (as reported by those survivors) just left the excavating equipments they used in the area of the mass grave. Is that a simple mistake or a confident act of power?
