'Victory for Philippines massacre victims'

The Philippine deputy mayor, whose wife, two sisters and four other relatives were among 57 people killed in an election-related massacre last year, was yesterday declared winner of the governorship of his troubled province.

Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, deputy mayor of the lakeside town of Buluan, was proclaimed Maguindanao governor by the elections commission, beating two rivals with links to Andal Ampatuan Snr, patriarch of a clan that ruled the province for nearly 10 years. "This is a victory for the victims of the massacre," said Mangudadatu supporters.