The Philippine justice ministry has charged the mayor of a town in the Maguindanao province with murdering 25 people during a mass killing on November 23, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said on Tuesday.

Andal Ampatuan, Jr., the son of a key local supporter of the incumbent Philippine president, Gloria Arroyo, was arrested on November 26, along with 20 other suspects. He is believed to be behind the attack on a convoy of his political rivals in the forthcoming provincial elections, in which 64 people were killed.

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the attack was carried out by about 100 gunmen from the so-called private army of Andal Ampatuan, the Maguindanao province's incumbent governor. The convoy was on its way to file the nomination of Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu to contest the governorship of Ampatuan in the Maguindanao province next year.

Three eyewitnesses, who were driving behind the convoy, said in their testimonies that Ampatuan led a group of about 100 armed men. He was the first one to approach the car of Genalin Mangudadatu, the candidate's wife, who was also killed.

"At that time, we heard simultaneous shooting from the armed bodyguards of Datu Unsay [Ampatuan's nickname]. Some armed men went to and ordered the opening of the windows of the Mangudadatu's vehicle," one of the witnesses said.

The country's chief prosecutor, Jovencito Zuno, said more charges might be filed against Ampatuan as soon as more forensic reports are available.

Ampatuan, who is the mayor of a town in the Maguindanao province, turned himself into authorities after police put him on a wanted list in suspicion of the crime. He has dismissed the accusation.

He is now being held in at the headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila. An NBI spokesperson said the man was being held "near the visitor's area" as he "remained fearful of ghosts" and claimed it was too hot inside his cell.

MOSCOW, December 1 (RIA Novosti)