MANILA, Philippines?Suspects in the massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao should face the law and be prevented from fleeing the country.

Seeking a hold departure order for them, Sultan Kudarat Representative Datu Pax Mangudadatu, appealed to the Department of Justice to immediately issue the order.

Mangudadatu is the uncle of Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife Genalyn and his sister were among those killed in Monday?s carnage in Maguindanao.

The congressman stressed that ?considering the political and economic clout of all the suspects who can easily evade justice by fleeing the country,? the hold departure order should be issued.

?I respectfully request that a hold departure order be issued to all suspects involved in this gruesome event. The undersigned prays that this request be granted and enforced with haste and dispatch at the soonest time possible,? he said in his letter to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera dated November 26.

He also urged government authorities to tightly guard the ?back door of Mindanao so as not to frustrate the ends of justice.?

Shariff Aguak mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been tagged as one of the prime suspects in the massacre, which took the lives of mostly media men who was with the Mangudadatus to cover the filing of their certificate of candidacy.

Esmael Mangudadatu was planning to run for governor of Maguindanao in a race that would pit him against Andal Ampatuan Jr.