Philippines files murder charges for massacre

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine prosecutors filed formal murder charges on Tuesday against a member of a powerful political family for the massacre of 57 people in a suspected clan feud that has stoked tensions ahead of elections next year.

Andal Ampatuan Jr, a local mayor in Maguindandao province, and several as yet unidentified suspects will face 25 counts of murder before a regional trial court in Cotabato City on the southern island of Mindanao.

They were accused of conspiracy in the execution of the wife, sisters and relatives of a rival politician, two lawyers, dozens of journalists and other civilians in Ampatuan town on November 23, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera told reporters.

The victims were on their way to an election office for the filing of nomination papers for a member of the Mangudadatu family when about 100-armed men attacked their convoy.

Fifty seven people, including journalists, were shot and hacked to death and most of them buried in three shallow graves on a hillside off the highway.

"As we continue to gather evidence, we're seeing more names and more suspects, including members of the Ampatuan family," Devanadera told reporters.

"Some of them pulled the triggers, some of them were of the group and we believed more than a hundred participated."

She said state prosecutors had asked the court to deny the suspect bail, adding the crime was serious and had shocked not only the country but the international community.

Ampatuan remains under heavy guard at the main office of the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila.