President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo welcomes Ansaruddin Alonte Adiong, the newly-appointed governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), to the the National Security Meeting which she is presiding over Saturday (December 12) at Malacanang’s Ramos Music Room.
ALFREDO FRANCISCO-OPS/NIB Photo handout 
Manila – Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has recalled her presidential proclomation placing Maguindanao province under martial law – and – transmitted the same to the Senate and House of Representatives ending a 8 day state of martial law in one Philippine province. However, the state of emergency in Maguindanao by virtue of Proclamation 1946 issued November 24, 2009 remains in effect. This covers the province of Maguindanao, Sultan Kuderat, and Cotabato City.
The Philippine Military is on the ground with some 4,000 combat troops to assist the Philippine National Police in the area and ensure that Police have support when needed in the event a local political ‘warlords’ private army which has been largely dismantled or surrendered creates problems. In a statement release early Sunday morning in Manila, "President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recalled today Proclamation 1959, lifting the state of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao province, saying that the objectives of her unprecedented move have been attained.
The lift order took effect at 9 p.m. Dec. 12." the statement reads further. "Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who announced the lifting of martial law during a press briefing at Malacanan, said the objectives of Proclamation 1959 have been achieved, hence the President’s decision to approve the unanimous recommendation on the matter by the National Security Council (NSC), based on a review and assessment of the situation on the ground. "
The Philippine Presidents cabinet further said that the reasons Martial were imposed have been met and the situation can now be handled by a restored ‘local government’ and ‘Police force’ in the area.
Pres. Arroyo had earlier relieved nearly the entire police command of Maguindanao relieving the assignments on case to case review and investigation affecting some 1,000 police assignments in the entire area covered by the crisis. The Martial law proclamation was put in effect to give the national government a larger force to deal with nearly three thousand armed militamen and supporters of the now detained governor of the region and his sons.
One of which is the principal accused in the massacre of 57 people.
- Proclamation 1959 or the declaration of martial law was meant to:
- Quell the rebellion in Maguindanao • Arrest the suspects in the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead
- Secure the safety of witnesses in the carnage
- File appropriate charges against the suspects • Disarm illegal armed groups • Restore law and order and press freedom
- Restore civilian government
In the Palace statement the situation has largly improved, "The NSC now believes that these objectives have already been adequately achieved, hence its recommendation to lift martial law in the province." Meanwhile Sec. Ermita is quoted in the palace release as saying that, "A list of over of 600 suspects is being processed for arrest and filing of charges. This included 62 rebels and 128 members of civilian volunteer organizations.."
He said further that, "Under martial law, threats to governance in Maguindanao were eliminated, enabling the criminal justice system to function again, while local government functions were likewise restored following the designation of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Vice Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong as the new ARMM governor, replacing Zaldy Ampatuan who was among those apprehended."
Meanwhile, Philippine Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, reports "That charges have been filed against 183 suspects in the massacre as more witnesses came out to give their testimonies to the investigators.
The figure surpassed the original list of 161 respondents targeted under Proc. No. 1959." According to Sec. Devanadera, "90 percent of the murder suspects were members of civilian volunteer organizations that functioned as paramilitaries but were also taking orders from the Ampatuans."
The Philippine government in its investigation of the massacre alleges in court documents filed by the department of justice that, "Andal Ampatuan Jr., the main suspect in the killings, has been formally charged with multiple murder before the court."
Martial Law succesfully prevented greater bloodshed-Sec Ermita
Under the 8 day martial law the government news release reproted that, "Police operatives and military troopers on the ground conducted relentless operations meant to neutralize the unauthorized armed groups, resulting in a huge haul of illegal firearms including grenade launchers and over 1000 high powered assualt weapons,"
The Palace statement also went on to say that the willingness of witnesses to come froward was boosted by the martial law protection provided to witnesses in the area and as a result, "led to arrest of those suspected of involvement in the Nov. 23 killings."
A second government statement released by the Philippine Information Agency says that, "The joint forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested 62 for rebellion and referred 128, including civilian voluntary officers who surrendered and 339 others now in the custody of DOJ or a total of 529 arrests."
Meanwhile the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado says, "AFP and PNP have found abandoned rebel positions—those previously occupied by the armed groups—but continued to closely monitor the province." threats remain but the command structure of the armed groups has been largely nuetralized.
Gen. Ibrado added that "the lifting of martial law did not preclude the total pullout of military troops in the province and that its 4,000 troops “are sufficient to control any group that later attempt anything there.”
Currently the government news agency reports that, Philippine military forces deployed there, "Consist of six Infantry battalions (IBs); two mechanized IBs; and one special operations command battalion." National Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza meanwhile says that "local police forces would closely coordinate with the AFP, manning of the checkpoints to monitor the movements of people being monitored."
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