MANILA, Philippines — Several witnesses to a 2009 election-related massacre of 57 people have been placed under government protection after a spate of killings of other witnesses to the country’s worst political bloodletting in recent years, officials said Wednesday.
State prosecutor Peter Medalle said six witnesses have been added to the Department of Justice’s witnessprotection program to ensure their safety. Additional protection has been given to at least four other witnesses already in the program, he said.
The governor of southern Maguindanao province, Esmael Mangudadatu, who also is the widower of one of the 57 victims, said at least six witnesses or their relatives have been gunned down since the massacre trial began in September 2010, sowing fear among other witnesses.
Members of the politically powerful Ampatuan clan, which controlled dozens of militiamen, have been blamed for the massacre of rival Mangudadatu clan members, their supporters and media workers who were traveling in a convoy when they were stopped by dozens of gunmen.
The Mangudadatus planned to challenge the governorship of Maguindanao, which had been controlled by the Ampatuans for years.
Among the dead were at least 31 media workers. It was the single worst killing of journalists in the world.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 07/26/2012