Skip links
Skip to Content
play
Live
Show navigation menu
Navigation menu
News
Show more news sections
Middle East
Africa
Asia
US & Canada
Latin America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Israel War on Gaza
Features
Opinion
Video
More
Show more sections
Economy
Ukraine war
Coronavirus
Climate Crisis
Investigations
Interactives
In Pictures
Science & Technology
Sport
Podcasts
play
Live
Click here to search
search
In Pictures
Gallery
Gallery: Crackdown in south Philippines
Thousands of troops in tanks and warplanes have taken control of the southern province of Maguindanao, after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippine president, declared martial law in the area [EPA]
Published On 7 Dec 2009
7 Dec 2009
facebook
twitter
whatsapp
copylink
The drastic move, imposed for the first time in nearly 30 years anywhere in the country, came as security forces clashed with armed men loyal to a powerful local political family [Reuters]
Andal Ampatuan Sr, the provincial governor and head of the Ampatuan clan, was detained shortly after martial law was declared accused of orchestrating an election-related massacre of 57 activists and journalists [AFP]
His son Andal Ampatuan Jr, the main suspect, already faces multiple counts of murder for the November 23 incident, described as the Philippines' worst-ever politically-related killings [EPA]
The government says more than 3,000 armed men loyal to the Ampatuans remain a security threat across the province [Reuters]
Security forces sealed off Maguindanao's exit points and mounted checkpoints amid fears that the gunmen could carry out further attacks [EPA]
The Philippines military has shown firearms, crates of ammunition and mortar shells they say were seized from a farm belonging to the the Ampatuan clan near the provincial capital [Reuters]
Officials said the weapons stockpile, some bearing the stamp of the Philippines defence department, were enough to arm a battalion [EPA]