A SAD, SAD STORY
November 24th 2009 00:00
Given a choice, I will not post a picture together with this story.
If I did, this will no longer be a sad story - it will be gory! In fact, if it were not for its political color, I wouldn’t have thought of posting it here.
This is one reason why I will never like politics. But please, don’t commit the mistake that what you are about to read here is a general representation of the political climate in this country.
The story happened in a place where I’d often been advised not to hold a promotional event because of the prevailing peace and order situation in the area.
According to the early version of the story, on the morning of November 23, 2009, a wife of a politician decided to go to the capital town of a province in Southern Philippines to file the certificate of candidacy of her husband. He is planning to run for governor of the province.
She decided to go instead of her husband because they know that their political rivals could be violent and they thought that since she is a woman, they will minimize the chances of having a violent confrontation with their opponents should the candidates of the other parties happen to be in the office of the Commission on Elections (to file their candidacies) at the same time that they are there. She, after all, is a woman.
The wife brought along her husband’s sister, two female lawyers, a number of supporters, and when a group of media practitioners in the area (many are also women) smelled a potential story, they too, tagged along.
At the last count (before this posting), there were said to be about 40 of them (including the media people) who went to the capital town.
Before the day is over, 21 of the 40 were found dead, including the wife. At least one was reportedly beheaded. Thirteen (13) of the 21 were female. And the remainder, some of whom were said to have been buried alive, are still missing. The media people were not spared.
When interviewed by phone by a leading radio station in Metro Manila, the husband (who said he just came from Manila) said his wife called him when they were stopped by around 100 armed men even before they reached the capital town. The leader of the group who stopped them asked what they were doing in the area.
When the wife said that they were on their way to the capital town to file the certificate of candidacy of her husband, the leader asked for the documents, snatched them from her and slapped them to her face. At least, that's how the husband related their side of the story. Up to this time the group believed to be responsible for the carnage is not yet issuing a statement.
Here's more of that story as reported by Philippine Daily Inquirer: Really Long Link
If I did, this will no longer be a sad story - it will be gory! In fact, if it were not for its political color, I wouldn’t have thought of posting it here.
This is one reason why I will never like politics. But please, don’t commit the mistake that what you are about to read here is a general representation of the political climate in this country.
The story happened in a place where I’d often been advised not to hold a promotional event because of the prevailing peace and order situation in the area.
She decided to go instead of her husband because they know that their political rivals could be violent and they thought that since she is a woman, they will minimize the chances of having a violent confrontation with their opponents should the candidates of the other parties happen to be in the office of the Commission on Elections (to file their candidacies) at the same time that they are there. She, after all, is a woman.
The wife brought along her husband’s sister, two female lawyers, a number of supporters, and when a group of media practitioners in the area (many are also women) smelled a potential story, they too, tagged along.
At the last count (before this posting), there were said to be about 40 of them (including the media people) who went to the capital town.
Before the day is over, 21 of the 40 were found dead, including the wife. At least one was reportedly beheaded. Thirteen (13) of the 21 were female. And the remainder, some of whom were said to have been buried alive, are still missing. The media people were not spared.
When interviewed by phone by a leading radio station in Metro Manila, the husband (who said he just came from Manila) said his wife called him when they were stopped by around 100 armed men even before they reached the capital town. The leader of the group who stopped them asked what they were doing in the area.
When the wife said that they were on their way to the capital town to file the certificate of candidacy of her husband, the leader asked for the documents, snatched them from her and slapped them to her face. At least, that's how the husband related their side of the story. Up to this time the group believed to be responsible for the carnage is not yet issuing a statement.
Here's more of that story as reported by Philippine Daily Inquirer: Really Long Link
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