Of what use are guns buried underground?  

The MILF, too, is another story. The local government is responsible for its people. The powerful, heavy firearms unearthed were not meant for protection but for war. War is the responsibility of the armed forces, not the ordinary citizens. Something is terribly horrifying in supplying the mayor, the governor and whoever with guns.

Oops, spelt your country wrong. :( Sorry. it is essentially typo. :(

And Corazon as well. :( Need to check spelling as well. :(

The Philippines is truly a peaceful and beautiful country. The Filipinos are very kind, friendly, and hospitable, except for a two handfuls of greedy, power hungry few. A Filipino teacher currently bagged the CNN Hero of the Year award. But his glory was overshadowed by a political family who played gods in the south. They killed people by peppering their bodies with bullets from heavy artillery. A sad story for any brown blood really.

The Arroyo administration created a monster in the Ampatuans. It's obvious that the weapons came from the government arsenal and given the number as well as the types recovered, I won't be surprised if somebody high-up, and I mean REALLY high-up, has knowledge of this. This is an issue that had already been raised by the Magdalo group. Now the government has no way to deny it's involvement.

They say that Ampatuan's private army helped the government fight a rebel group (the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF) and while I may not agree with what the MILF is fighting for, at least they're fighting for something and that's something one can at least respect. Amaptuan's group on the other hand are nothing more than a bunch of goons.

I'm from Northern Mindanao so this incident hits pretty close to home. It's a shame that this had to happen.

My stomach is still revolting from this news. I had refrained from looking at the footage of the bodies dug from the makeshift grave. I can understand suicide bombers because they believe they die for a cause and a principle. But this Ampatuan killing, this is repulsive.

I believe in command responsibility. The incumbent had much to account for, if not in this life, so in the next. The oath sworn was justice for every man. I am waiting for that.

A general speaking for the armed forces said that the artillery used in the massacre could shoot from two kilometers away. Leaves nothing to the imagination.

Uhm..AFAIK,they did not use artillery in the massacre.I'm no expert, but by definition artillery are large caliber(105mm, 80mm) crew-served weapons such as cannons, howitzers, and mortars, used for indirect fire.
By comparison, the M16 rifle is a 5.56mm weapon.
Also, artillery rounds usually explode on impact, resulting in damage to the surrounding area where the shell lands.This "kill radius" could be anywhere from 5 to 30 meters.Had the perpetrators used these type of weapon, they would also have died in the blast.
But then again, maybe those are the type of weapons that should be used on the perpetrators and brains of the massacre:stuff them into howitzers and blast them into oblivion!

The information is highly appreciated. I share the same viewpoint but let us allow the long arm of the law do justice for every man. Keep safe in your home place.

The armed forces are capable of restoring normalcy without Martial Law. The legislative body had been racking their brains for sanity. Let us see if they could rise to make this event worth jotting down in history.

Although I stand corrected as there is a report that the convoy of cars that carries some more evidences to Gen. Santos City were ambushed on their way to the General Santos City. That was the only arm conflict I ever heard from the province which is related to the Massacre case.

I also heard that putting them arrested for rebellion charges would even lessen the degree of the case because the murder would be included already in the rebellion charges which gives them a much lighter penalty if found guilty than if they were charged with Murder. I think the Administration is finding ways to lighten the case to rebellion which is a much lighter penalties on the ground that it was a political crime and not a criminal crime anymore.

Yes, it is December but it feels like a midsummer night's dream. I wish I could write a good ending to all the hullabaloo going one but the current situation defies every writer's imaginative storyline. Now we have to wait for Monday for a most pressing decision... to revoke or not. Gosh! When ML gets lifted today, what happens? Will the exercise continue to determine the soundness of the proclamation?

Everybody is all praying for the early resolution to this case. It seems that even though our loved ones are not included in the massacre we felt that gravity of the case fell down upon us and we are all affected somehow. I just do not know if the people behind the administration is also with the masses' sentiments.

The Maguindanao massacre is as grim as the holocaust of the Jews. Many in the executive and the legislative bodies are callous enough not to see that.

I had been on the streets once before and that was something I would not wish on my children. If duty calls for me to make a stand again, so be it. And God be my witness for loving this islands.

Murder and rebellion matter to me very much. Both threaten the peace every human being has a right to live with. And the arms matter, too. That is a weapon for curtailing life.

What i'm trying to say in my first sentence is it doesnt matter to me on what grounds they'll sue the ampatuans for. be it for murder or rebellion as long as the victims get the justice they deserved. Apologies for the confusion . Cheers!

I am with you. I agree completely. No one must be given the privilege of putting up his own army. I was also expressing a sentiment in my response. I apologize for not making it clear.

Martial Law is an extreme measure. Although the armed forces follow the chain of command, I do not think the generals are foolish to carry on a command detrimental to the nation. The soldiers were sworn to protect the citizens and they know that. The misguided military and police in Maguindanao had recently learned their lesson. They must serve the people, not just one power hungry illegitimately posted incumbent. I had seen how the Filipinos had risen to the occasion when their physical presence was needed most. I believe in the Filipino. They will bind again, when duty calls.