A judge in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/child-killed-as-earthquake-strikes-southern-philippines-268381">Philippines</a> prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the&nbsp;massacre&nbsp;a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

Three generations of a&nbsp;political&nbsp;clan accused of masterminding the&nbsp;2009&nbsp;killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence.

Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-explosions-rock-southern-philippines-ahead-of-election-218374">Maguindanao</a>, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath.

Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator.

It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one.

There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015.

Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;democracy.

"We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters.

"This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake."

The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages.

The attack, known as the "Maguindanao&nbsp;Massacre", was chilling even by&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;standards, where&nbsp;political&nbsp;assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed.

Muslim-dominated parts of the southern&nbsp;Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-troops-pound-islamists-as-death-toll-passes-300-16944">separatist unrest</a> and the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of warlords aided by an abundance of arms.

Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught.

"The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence. Three generations of a political clan accused of masterminding the 2009 killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence. Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of Maguindanao, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath. Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator. It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one. There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015. Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for Philippine democracy. "We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters. "This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake." The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages. The attack, known as the "Maguindanao Massacre", was chilling even by Philippine standards, where political assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed. Muslim-dominated parts of the southern Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, separatist unrest and the rule of warlords aided by an abundance of arms. Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught. "The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

Philippine court to rule on 2009 political massacre

Two explosions rocked the majority Muslim area of the southern Philippines on Monday, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-votes-in-polls-expected-to-strengthen-dutertes-grip-on-power-218221">few hours before elections began in the country</a>.

No casualties were reported in the incidents.

The first blast took place around 1 am on Monday in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province, according to local media reports.

Another blast was reported some 500 meters away from a polling centre - an hour and a half before voting was to begin - at around 4.30 am.

Armed Forces spokesperson, Noel Detoyato, said that fragments of the explosives are being investigated to determine the type used and added that tanks have been deployed in the area to reinforce security during election day.

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The national police chief, Oscar Albayalde, said that the motive behind blast was to create fear among the voters but not to cause victims.

According to witnesses, a little before the second explosion occurred, a group of men in t-shirts that read MNLF - Moro National Liberation Front, an Islamic separatist organization - entered the voting centre and caused minor damage.

Two explosions also occurred in the nearby city of Cortabato on Sunday, in which no casualties were reported.

These blasts have not yet been reported to be linked to the elections as the investigations are ongoing.

Violence during election process in the country is common where dozens of candidates and supporters are killed in every election as political corruption in a country with deep pockets of poverty becomes a source of income.

According to the Election Commission, during the pre-campaign and campaign, 43 violent incidents related to elections were recorded which left 20 dead and 24 injured.

Some 200 people have been detained for attempting to buy votes - at a price of around $19 but in some cases for as low as 20 pesos, the Commission reported.

Some, 61.8 million Filipinos are eligible to vote in the local and legislative elections to decide between 43,000 candidates for 18,000 posts, including mayors, councillors, provincial governors and some 300 congress members.

Cotabato city and Maguindanao province - where the explosions too place - are part of Bangsamoro, a new autonomous Muslim region which is widely supported by the population and which seeks to end decades of separatist conflict in the southern Philippines. Some radical groups remain opposed to this solution.

Two explosions rocked the majority Muslim area of the southern Philippines on Monday, a few hours before elections began in the country. No casualties were reported in the incidents.

Two explosions rocked the majority Muslim area of the southern Philippines on Monday, a few hours before elections began in the country. No casualties were reported in the incidents. The first blast took place around 1 am on Monday in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province, according to local media reports. Another blast was reported some 500 meters away from a polling centre - an hour and a half before voting was to begin - at around 4.30 am. Armed Forces spokesperson, Noel Detoyato, said that fragments of the explosives are being investigated to determine the type used and added that tanks have been deployed in the area to reinforce security during election day. The national police chief, Oscar Albayalde, said that the motive behind blast was to create fear among the voters but not to cause victims. According to witnesses, a little before the second explosion occurred, a group of men in t-shirts that read MNLF - Moro National Liberation Front, an Islamic separatist organization - entered the voting centre and caused minor damage. Two explosions also occurred in the nearby city of Cortabato on Sunday, in which no casualties were reported. These blasts have not yet been reported to be linked to the elections as the investigations are ongoing. Violence during election process in the country is common where dozens of candidates and supporters are killed in every election as political corruption in a country with deep pockets of poverty becomes a source of income. According to the Election Commission, during the pre-campaign and campaign, 43 violent incidents related to elections were recorded which left 20 dead and 24 injured. Some 200 people have been detained for attempting to buy votes - at a price of around $19 but in some cases for as low as 20 pesos, the Commission reported. Some, 61.8 million Filipinos are eligible to vote in the local and legislative elections to decide between 43,000 candidates for 18,000 posts, including mayors, councillors, provincial governors and some 300 congress members. Cotabato city and Maguindanao province - where the explosions too place - are part of Bangsamoro, a new autonomous Muslim region which is widely supported by the population and which seeks to end decades of separatist conflict in the southern Philippines. Some radical groups remain opposed to this solution.

Two explosions rock southern Philippines ahead of election

Two explosions rocked the majority Muslim area of the southern Philippines on Monday, few hours before elections were to begin in the country. No casualty was reported in the incident.

Two explosions rock southern Philippines ahead of election day