The mayor of a town in the southern Philippines who is accused in the November massacre of dozens of people pleaded not guilty today to 41 murder charges.
Today was the first day of the trial of the mayor, Andal Ampatuan Jr., whose family has been a close political ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Authorities said the massacre in Ampatuan town, in the southern province of Maguindanao, left 57 people dead, making it the worst act of political violence ever in the Philippines. Among the victims were 30 reporters and media workers, the largest number of journalists killed in a single incident.
Prosecutors have filed only 41 cases so far.
