Arroyo directs military to look for gunmen

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the country's military to search for gunmen in the hostage-and-killing in Maguindanao province Monday.

Gunmen took dozens of hostages Monday, killing many of them, officials said. Accounts of the number of people seized and killed varied. CNN reported at least 22 killed. The Philippines New Agency reported about 50 people were taken hostage and 29 killed. The Los Angeles Times reported 30 died, including 13 women.

The dead included at least 12 journalists, CNN reported, citing Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that advocates for journalists.

"Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day," the organization said.

Arroyo ordered authorities to secure the affected area, saying nothing would be spared in searching for, arresting and prosecuting of the perpetrators, PNA said. Arroyo also ordered checkpoints and choke points in the area, her office said.

The sister and the wife of Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan in Maguindanao, were going to file his certificate of candidacy in the provincial gubernatorial race when they were attacked near the town of Ampatuan. They were traveling with an entourage of lawyers and local journalists.

Military officials said about 100 armed men surrounded the group of about 40 people, ordered them out of their vehicles and then took them to a mountainous region where they rape and tortured some of the women, CNN said, citing media reports. Officials said some of the victims had been beheaded.

The Philippine armed forces said the gunmen allegedly were led by followers of incumbent Andal Ampatuan, who has controlled the autonomous Muslim region for the past decade.

Army Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division, said the bodies were found about 3 miles from where the victims were taken captive, the Times reported. Philippine military troops were searching for at least a dozen more victims who also had been among the group.

"Troops are in the area and tracking down those responsible in these killings," Ponce said.

Amnesty International, meanwhile, condemned the killings and called for an immediate investigation.

"These killings underline the danger facing civilians in the run up to the national elections. The authorities must immediately launch an independent and effective investigation into these murders and ensure that they do all they can to prevent killings and other violence," Donna Guest, deputy Asia Pacific director for Amnesty International, said in a release.