Last month’s political massacre on the Philippines island of Mindanao shocked the world. 57 people were killed. 30 were journalists. Two were pregnant women.

Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local politician, has been charged in the killings. He was attempting to prevent a rival from registering for next year’s provincial governors elections. 30 others have been arrested.

Philippines President Gloria Macapaagal Arroyo has instituted martial law in the province to detain the more than 160 suspects in the case. The massacre and response go to the core the culture of corruption and impunity in the Philippines.

Matthew Briones is a historian at the University of Chicago. His family is originally from the Philippines.