Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today condemned in strongest terms the brutal and senseless killing of at least 46 civilians, including members of the Mangundadatu family, 2 lawyers and several journalists, in Maguindanao.

“What happened was a very gruesome and horrible event. We, especially the youth, are enraged and urged to up vigilance against election-related violence. The stakes for a clean and honest elections have intensified,” Palatino said.

“We call on the present government to immediately investigate and punish those responsible for this carnage. We will also support all independent investigations by media and human rights groups and concerned citizens,” he said.
Kabataan Partylist, together with youth and student groups, today lit candles for the victims and held an indignation rally at the Scouts Monument, Timog Avenue and a campus assembly in UP Diliman condemning election related-violence.

“The violence perpretrated by warlords and power-hungry politicos can discourage and send a chilling effect especially to millions of young voters. We challenge the present government to do everything and leave no stones unturned in resolving these murders,” the young solon said.

At the same time, the youth solon also challenged the 2010 presidentiables to denounce the first political mass murder of the election season and to swear in public that they will not engage in election-related violence to ensure electoral victory.

“We have yet to hear from our presidential aspirants. As the leaders and standard bearers of their respective political parties, they should direct all their members to avoid using goons and guns. Our leaders and candidates should make effort in ensuring that the Maguindanao murder would be the last” Palatino said.

Kabataan and other youth groups also set November 26 as nationwide youth indignatn over the Magindanao massacre and election violence. ###