A Philippine politician was charged with murder Friday after authorities accused him of ordering soldiers, police and other gunmen to kill at least 57 defenseless people in an organized slaughter and the politician whose wife and relatives were among those massacred in an apparent bid to stop him from running for governor filed his candidacy papers, vowing only his death could stop him. Two army chiefs with direct responsibilities for the southern Philippine region were relieved of their posts Friday, the military said. The pair were also ordered back to Manila to be investigated for their actions surrounding Monday's killings, military spokesman Romeo Brawner said. Andal Ampatuan Jnr, a mayor in the lawless southern Philippines who until this week was an ally of President Gloria Arroyo and a member of her ruling coalition, was charged with seven counts of murder, the government said. “He was the one who gave the instructions. He was among those... who killed the victims,” Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera told reporters as she outlined the case against Ampatuan Jnr. She indicated more charges would likely be laid against him and others, saying the process of filing cases had only just begun. Devanadera also revealed the suspect's father, the leader of the Ampatuan clan and governor of Maguindanao province, was among eight other members of the powerful family under investigation and not allowed to leave the country. Devanadera gave the most detailed official account yet of Monday's massacre, saying the female victims may have also been raped. “It was horrible,” Devanadera told the GMA television network, recounting what she had seen of the bodies as well as the testimony of many of those who had taken part in the killings. She said the witnesses told prosecutors that Ampatuan Jnr ordered his private militia of more than 100 gunmen to open fire on the people on a remote farming area in Maguindanao province. The gunmen had a short time earlier abducted a convoy of aides and relatives of a rival Muslim politician, Esmael Mangudadatu, plus a batch of local journalists. Ampatuan, who surrendered to authorities, has denied any involvement. He faces life in jail as the Philippines does not have the death penalty. Devanadera said many of those who took part in the massacre were clear that Ampatuan Jnr was at the scene of the murders, ordered them to open fire and even shot people himself. She said the group of more than 100 gunmen included soldiers and policemen.
