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US Congress to RP govt: Prosecute Maguindanao massacre culprits


Lawmakers in the United States are calling for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the “senseless killings" of 57 people, mostly women and journalists, in Maguindanao. In a resolution sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman (CA-28) and signed on Tuesday, lawmakers expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and condemned the culture of impunity prevailing among clans, politicians and other persons of influence in the Philippines. About 22 other lawmakers co-sponsored the concurrent resolution. “[The Congress hopes] that the proceedings be conducted with the highest possible level of professionalism, impartiality, and regard for witness protection to assure the Filipino people that all the responsible persons are brought to justice," the resolution read. It also urged the Departments of State and Justice and other US government agencies to “review their assistance programs to the Government of the Philippines, and to offer any technical assistance, such as forensics support, that Philippine authorities may request." The US embassy in Manila had earlier said that it had to postpone its projects in Maguindanao until the security in the area is assured. “We hope to continue our work projects in Maguindanao when we feel confident about the safety of our personnel that work there," US embassy deputy spokesperson Woosie Mazengia told GMANews.TV. On November 23, about a hundred armed men blocked a convoy led by the wife of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu as they were on their way to Shariff Aguak town to file his certificate of candidacy for the gubernatorial post in the 2010 polls. At least 57 people were killed when the attackers fired on the civilians and buried many of them, including the vehicles, in an isolated hillside several kilometers from the highway, police said. Members of the powerful Ampatuan clan have been tagged as suspects in the massacre. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo imposed martial law in Maguindanao on Friday December 4 to arrest the suspects in the massacre and disarm civilian units used by the Ampatuan clan in the province. - GMANews.TV

Tags: , maguindanao
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