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Philippines Now In State of Emergency After Killings

Written by: Matthew Lawrence on 24th November 2009 |

Philippines Now In State of Emergency After Killings | read this item

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has placed two southern provinces under a state of emergency, after gunmen killed at least 35 people on Monday.

This announcement would allow police and soldiers to set up checkpoints and conduct random searches to find the gunmen. The victims were killed as they were travelling to file nomination papers for elections next May.

All the victims were civilians, including the wife of the vice mayor of Buluan, a town in Maguindanao province, who had intended to file nomination papers for her husband to run for governor in local elections next year.

An investigator at the scene told reporters all victims had been shot at close range, some in their vehicles and others apparently while fleeing.

The attack is one of worst incidents of pre-poll violence in the Philippines.

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Topics: Philippines