A former Philippine provincial governor ordered the killing of the wife and sister of his political rival, a Manila court was told on the first day of trial for the massacre of 57 people last November.
Lakmudin Saliao, who had worked for the Ampatuan family for 18 years, told the court he was with Andal Ampatuan snr when his son Andal Ampatuan jr called him on November 23rd from the roadblock where supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu were stopped.
Mr Ampatuan told his son to kill Mr Mangudadatu's wife and sister, and to spare the journalists who were accompanying them to file Mr Mangudadatu's election papers, according to Mr Saliao.
At least 30 journalists were among the 57 people murdered that day.
The two Ampatuans and 17 of their relatives are among 197 people who have been charged with the murders. The Ampatuans have denied the charges.
Mr Ampatuan jr and 16 policemen are the first defendants to stand trial.
Philippine political killings and "death squad" executions of suspected criminals make the Southeast Asian country similar to some South American countries two decades ago, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in April.
At least five potential witnesses in the trial have been killed, the organization said. Mr Mangudadatu, who wasn't with the group that was stopped and killed, was elected governor of the southern province of Maguindanao in May.
The trial will continue next week with the prosecution questioning Mr Saliao again.
Reuters