risking lives/killing people worth it just to have a position in the government?

I came from Mindanao and you can see poverty all around in spite of all the natural resources it has. If you will go there especially in the Muslim areas you can see that most of the people depends on farming, there's not much infrastructure and development but you will notice that most if not all of the houses of the local politicians are mansions, if you can see a new luxury car in Metro Manila, you can almost be sure that you can see some in Mindanao as well that is owned by a politician. You'll surely wonder where most of them got the money to build those houses considering how meager the salary that politicians get and they even have their own private army. That's why you can't expect to have an honest election in Mindanao because losing in the elections means a stop in their access to millions of government money and kickbacks. But i think this is not limited in Mindanao only, I'm sure there are other places in the Philippines that almost the same if not worst. I just think that the people behind the recent killings in Mindanao thought that they are powerful enough that they think they can get away with their crimes that easily. Well the thought wrong. I'm sure even the president as much as she want's to white wash the incident since the suspect are her allies would have a hard time doing so due to the pressure that's coming from almost everywhere.

yeah, it is never worth it to kill people for any intentions and aims. specially if the motivation is to stay or grab power. election in the philippines has always been violent and bloody. killings of political opponents have been sadly a trademark of philippine politics. recently, a massacre happened in maguindanao for political reason, killing 49 people and still some are unaccounted for. the killings aimed to stop the filing of candidacy of one influential politician. months before the election, violence is creeping in. too sad, too bad.

Yes, it is so sad that these evil things happened all because of people's greed and cruelty hungry for power. I lived here in Mindanao and the city where I lived is just fours from Maguindanao where the massacres happened. The two clans who are once allies are now mortal enemies who killed one another just to stay in power. The story goes like this, the victims-who were about to file for candidacy in the next year's election-were already warned that if they will proceed to their plans to run against their mortal enemy family, they will suffer a hard fate , so it was, when the their convoy passed through the rugged, isolated road, they will blocked and seized by their opponent's private army. It was the most horrible crimes I ever heard in recent years in our country related to national election. The killers were all cold-hearted and cold-blooded evils and they should be thrown to jail for that heinous crime they committed. This incident should not be taken for granted.

kabayan, I also feel the same way as you are, it is not worth having your own people killed just to have a position in the government, the people who are going to the comelec are innocent and just want to participate in a democratic system by filing their cocs and all of a sudden bang!!! the people behind that carnage deserves God's judgement come judgement day they will suffer as what they did to innocent civilians most of them are from the media so I condole with their loved ones as well.

hey jazel.. i think the massacre occurred in maguindanao.. and yeah this is an outrage so to speak!.. killing people for power is not a good thing.. and of course those people who did only do it for money and power.. they are so self centered. they only think about themselves and dont think about others.. i hope they dont win and they get the proper punishment that they deserve!!

they are psychotic beast!! all people involve in that killing... normal thinking people would never do that...and sadly they occupy space in our government...anyways most of the politicians here in phillipines i supposed, are psychotic!!...look what happenned to our society and government...i am once a very nationalistic person but year passed of nothing happened...got frustrated, and theres a change of mind....its about to think of myself and my family...

This news is very shocking not only to us Filipinos but to all people in the whole world. I couldn't understand why this has to happen when the root of this evil is just an elected position in the government. I wish that the politics in the Philippines will have a different image.

I do as I live here in Cotabato City and last Monday Nov. 23, 2009, all the residents here are still in shock. I am very sad too as one of my neighbor who just happen to be included among the convoy who just happen to pass along the main roads in his way to his offices in NEDA the son of a councilor here Mr. Anthony Ridao, is one of the victim which includes 46 people, 3 pregnant women, women and men journalist, and the clan of a political rival were massacre where their bodies were throw in the shallow graves that includes their vehicles. They are good peace loving people and yet they are treated like animals and been killed with no mercy. This massacre happen due to the greed of the other rival politician gang of warlord and clan. For a long time the people here want peace and yet for a long time it eludes us which I wish would be attain in the future. I am very saddened now Christmas time is coming and i deeply sympathize in sorrow for the family of the victims who are innocently included in the killing although they are not politician themselves. I do hope the government of Pres. Gloria Arroyo would haunt those irresponsible evil warlord perpetrator which for a long time have drive the people in fear. I am praying deeply and with a sorrowful heart that these souls of the victim would finally gain justice for they perish being innocent unknowing that they would be killed on those fateful black Monday. This would be once written in history and i do hope this gruesome killing would not be repeated again. I deeply condemn this and pray hard that the victims would be given the right justice. I do share the same sentiments with you and because of greed, evil men exist and they kill for power, fame and selfishness!!!

Of course it came from people with godless ideals and with totally corrupt conscience . Regarding your question whether there's still salvation waiting for them, only the absolute wisdom and power of God know it. Paul is a murderer and persecutor of Christians before he was converted. He repented and was saved. Let God judge them. He is a just Judge anyway. God sees it and I think those innocent victims of injustice are already happy with God in heaven. God will render justice in due time. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Its so sad to hear in the news that political killing is now rampant for the government position that they want to have maybe they feel treated when the other party is filling a candidacy. Maybe government position is really good in making money no matter it is bad as long as they are earning. All the people can only condemn them but that doesn't even uplift the sadness of the family that is left behind. What's the proper thing to do is to look for the one committed the crime & have them under firing squad in order to give justice to the family.

I really felt sad about the Maguindanao massacre. Its really awful to hear people have been killed by the same nationality just because of politics. I have been asking myself why do people get killed and kill people. Do these perpetrators feel happy that they have killed men and women? Why, Why, Why, and why do they have to kill people? I am in deep thoughts what came into their mind that they wanted to kill their rivals. Let's just pray together with the bereaved families of those killed in Maguindanao.

well for me, it isn't right killing people or risking lives in exchange for a mere position in the government. it was way too high a risk to do just that. aside from it is against the law, it is one of the greatest sin on earth. and besides it is also against God's will. yes, you are right, there is no salvation waiting for them, what is waiting for those people are purely hell. you see how dirty the politics in the Philippines is? and i don't mean its just happen in the Philippines, it happened everywhere.

What happened in Maguindanao is the most embarrassing inhumane act in Filipino History! I just saw the news and a lot said that its far worst than Martial Law. And yet the government, mainly our hated president looks like they don't give a sh*t at all!! The suspects are just probably lounging at their mansions right now when they should be put to jail for due process! If this becomes unresolved, I'm gonna have to live the country and change my nationality because this is just too embarrassing!! Did you also hear that we're worst than Iraq?? Good gracious almighty!