[rusty_blues]

Dead bodies lie on the ground near their vehicles at the crime scene of a massacre of a political clan that included several journalists in the outskirts of Ampatuan, Maguindanao in southern Philippines November 24, 2009.

The Philippines sacked the provincial police chief and sent hundreds of extra troops to a southern region on Tuesday where gunmen killed at least 24 people in the worst-ever election related violence in the country. On Monday, about 100 gunmen abducted a group of people going to file a nomination for the provincial governor's post in Maguindanao. A group of about 40 people, including women and local journalists, were taken away by gunmen who opened fire on them, investigators said. A local leader said four survivors were in hiding.

[Pigeon]

I heard about this just yesterday. It's so awful.

Mindanao (the region where this happened) is so FUCKED. As soon as I heard that there was a massacre in the Philippines, I knew immediately where it had happened.

My mum (who's Filipino) says that a local political leader/candidate (can't remember) organised it; that it was the elimination of rivals and/or their family members. Of course my mum's not a journalist but there you go. I'll update as I find out more.

The other thing she told me was a reminder about the "unwritten laws" in the Philippines. There's a culture of retribution; if you rape or murder someone, you can expect to be lynched by the family members and had better act accordingly (flee).

[elizajane]

Like lambs to the slaughter,

[darkangelicdust]

sad politics

[rusty_blues]

the mastermind of the said massacre is now in custody.

[skullsoup432]

I wonder if the banana boat man will do the tally?