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Court Convicts Masterminds of 2009 Philippines Massacre

VOA News

   A Philippine court on Thursday found members of a prominent political
   clan guilty of carrying out a 2009 massacre that left 57 people dead,
   including 32 media workers.

   The Manila court sentenced Andal Ampatuan Jr. and several other family
   members to life in prison. The case involved more than 100 detained
   suspects, and dozens were given lesser sentences while others were
   acquitted for a lack of evidence.

   Nicholas Bequelin of the London-based rights group Amnesty
   International said the government must take more steps to achieve
   justice for the victims with 80 other people accused of taking part in
   the massacre still at large.

   The killings took place after gunmen blocked a convoy carrying
   relatives and supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu. They were traveling to
   submit forms for his candidacy for governor of Maguindanao province in
   what was a challenge to the Ampatuan control in the area.

   The victims and their vehicles were dumped in a mass grave.

   The trial in the case began in 2010, and throughout the process the
   Ampatuan family members denied the charges against them.