Massacre in the Philippines

The West has long supported democracy as the best system possible. However, the fact remains that in many impoverished countries, democracy comes hand-in-hand with corruption and violence. This ongoing case in the Philippines is a sobering example of the dangers of democracy without strong rule of law and the elimination of patronage-based politics.
The following excerpt from a Globe and Mail article on the incident speaks to these shortcomings, particularly when read in light of the fact that the alleged killers are likely from a family loyal to the current president of Philippines:

Julkipli Wadi, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of the Philippines, said he doubted the national government's resolve in trimming the powers of political dynasties like the Ampatuans because they deliver votes during elections.

“Because of the absence of viable political institutions, powerful men are taking over,” he said. “Big political forces and personalities in the national government are sustaining the warlords, especially during election time, because they rely on big families for their votes.”

Al Jazeera has also followed the story and recently did an episode on political violence in the area. As elections-related violence likely continues, the world will certainly be watching more closely to see how the central government handles this incident and what impact it will have on voting patterns.