It is the season of filing of candidacy for the national election in the Phlippines.  Somewhere in Southern Philippines, a massacre took place, in the province of Maguindanao.  This involves political rival clans of two prominent families in the region, Ampatuan versus Mangundadatu clans.

Journalists are accompanying the wife of a gubernatorial candidate Vice mayor Ismael Mangundadatu, human rights lawyers, and her sisters, when their vehicles were blocked by approximately 100 armed men, allegedly belonging to the private army of Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr (town Mayor).  They are about to file a formal candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in the region.    

All of them were kidnapped and taken in a remote area where they were instantly massacred.  Bullet wounds found in  most heads of the victims and then dumped in a certain pit using the government vehicle's backhoe.  Women believed to be raped before being killed.The group is composed of more than 40 people.  Commission on Human Rights chairperson Leila de Lima, told the media, that the accounts of the gruesome killings and on how the government is currently handling the situation, is quite 'unusual.'  This creates criticisms from the public, since the family of Ampatuan is a closed political ally of President Arroyo.  The Ampatuan clan owns mansions in the region , while their constituents are sufferring from poor housing facilities and few road insfrastructures.  The clan is believed to be maintaining a strong private army/security personnel which feared most of its constituents. (photo credits from AP, Gulf News, ABS-CBN Manila)