UNITED Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of the international community have condemned Monday’s massacre in Maguindanao, which left at least 46 civilians, including a dozen journalists, dead in the worst pre-election violence case recorded in the Philippines. They also called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement: “The Secretary-General is saddened by the reports of the brutal killing of more than 40 civilians in the Maguindanao province, Southern Philippines. He condemns this heinous crime committed in the context of a local election campaign. The Secretary-General extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The statement of European Union’s External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner reads: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the barbaric killing on 23 November 2009 of innocent civilians, including women, journalists and lawyers, who were preparing to participate in the electoral process in the Philippines. I call for calm in the period leading up to the forthcoming elections scheduled for May 2010. In the face of this atrocity, the rule of law and democracy has to prevail.”