Ampatuan Massacre Raises Level of Barbarity in Philippine Politics

Ampatuan Massacre Raises Level of Barbarity in Philippine Politics

By Benjie Oliveros

MANILA — The Ampatuan massacre last November 23 shocked the nation and the world. It was shocking not only because of its ferocity, claiming the lives of 57 innocent people including passers by, and barbarity, which included the rape of women, desecration of bodies and beheading of some victims, but also because of the brazenness in the commission of such abhorrent atrocities. Even lawyers and journalists, who were there to witness the filing of certificate of candidacy of vice mayor Datu Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu of Buluan town supposedly to prevent any untoward incident from happening to Mangudadatu’s relatives and supporters, were brutally killed.

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