President Arroyo declared a state of martial law - update

“I hereby declare a state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao, except for the identified areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as referred to in the implementing operational guidelines of the GRP-MILF agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said, reading the President’s proclamation at Malacañang Palace yesterday morning.

The proclamation was officially signed by the President at 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 following the series of consultations with security forces. Martial rule will be in effect only for 60 days.

Through Proclamation 1959, the President placed the province under the control of the military and suspended civil rights as well as the application of the writ of habeas corpus, making way for warrantless arrests.

Ermita, after reading the proclamation, said the President had the authority to call in the military to suppress rebellion and protect civilians.

He added the declaration was made after the government received reports there were armed groups massing in the area to launch drastic action after a local mayor was arrested in connection with the massacre of members of a rival political clan, civilians and 30 journalists on Nov. 23.

TOP advisers yesterday defended President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao and said they were ready to defend it if questioned before the Supreme Court.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said she was convinced of the need for Martial Law after she saw reports from the field.

“There’s a rebellion in the area,” she told a nationally televised news conference. “It was practically an overthrow of government.”

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A new wave of charges may be filed against the Ampatuans in connection with the Maguindanao massacre and a “looming rebellion” that prompted the Martial Law declaration Saturday.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed Maguindanao province under martial law on Saturday as an “offshoot of intelligence reports that indicate the sightings of the massing of armed men supposedly loyal to the Ampatuans,” who are suspects to the gruesome murder of at least 57 people last November 23.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the rebellion started shortly after the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the massacre.

Over a thousand policemen were sacked, while more than 400 members of the government's militiamen were disarmed a day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a proclamation declaring martial law in Maguindanao province.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said in an interview with a television station on Saturday that a total of 1,092 policemen were relieved, while 429 members of the Civilian Volunteer Organization were disarmed in Maguindanao where 57 people were massacred almost two weeks ago.

Espina said that practically, the province's entire police force was dissolved and replaced by authorities from the PNP's mobile groups and special action force to ensure "effective police control of Maguindanao" and for an "impartial" probe of the November 23 grisly killings.

Likewise, total disarmament is being observed in the province, where permits and licenses to carry firearms have been suspended, according to Espina.