Arroyo declares Martial law in Maguindanao

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Saturday.

Malacañang has suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the province, where 57 people in Ampatuan town were involved in a massacre last November 23, except "for certain areas."

In so doing, the military can make arrests without court intervention.

"The condition of peace and order in the province of Maguindanao have deteriorated to the extent that local judicial systems and other government mechanisms are not functioning and thus endangering public safety," Ermita pointed out.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that judicial process is hindered as "no judges will take the case, no judges will pursue the proper search warrants, or warrant of arrests."

Under Proclamation 1959, the declaration follows that of then-president Ferdinand Marcos who imposed military rule over the entire country from 1972 to 1981.

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Philippine massacre suspect charged with murder

The heir of a dominant clan is charged with 25 counts of murder Tuesday in the massacre of 57 people.

Andal Ampatuan Jr. was witnessed by at least 10 people leading gunmen, including police officers, who obstructed the election caravan of his rival before the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre, told Philippine prosecutor Al Calica.

After hours, slumped were bullet-riddled and chopped bodies found near the highway and quickly buried together with three vehicles in three mass graves using a backhoe.

Ampatuan turned himself in last week and denied the accusation.

"The evidence is strong," Calica mentioned, telling further that three of the witnesses were in the convoy with journalists, the wife, two sisters, aunt and many supporters of Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, Ampatuan's rival from Buluan.

Additional charges will be pushed through by the prosecutors considering that the killings were cautiously planned.

The carnage brought the whole world into condemnation, including the United Nations, United States of America, Australian and European governments.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of emergency in Maguindanao and a neigboring province and ordered police and troops to sequester unlicensed weapons to bring back peace and order.

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