The Philippine Online Chronicles

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo effected “immediate and relentless pursuit of the perpetrators, to secure the affected areas,” after around 30 people were killed in a political rampage in Maguindanao last November 23, Monday.

Arroyo's political adviser Gabriel Claudio said that the government was “shocked and outraged” by the country's worst political violence in recent years. The provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City are now placed under state of emergency, in order to prevent further rise in violence toll.

In an interview with the ANC, Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu said that his wife Genalyn, along with his sister and other relatives, was on the way to Shariff Aguak town to file a certificate of candidacy (COC) for his gubernatorial bid in May 2010. He claimed to still have received a call from his wife saying that a group of around 100 armed men halted them. Around 12 journalists, who were to cover the filing of Mangudadatu's COC, were also killed.

Mangudadatu and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner suspect that the assailants are supposedly from the political rival clan of Ampatuan, who are held to be steadfast supporters of the Arroyo administration.

Arroyo, however, gave her assurance of the rule of law, thereby appointing National Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and acting AFP Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang to personally supervise the investigation and operation to counteract “the perpetrators of these dastardly acts.”