Palace to Maguindanao clans: Don't take law into your own hands
11/26/2009 | 09:49 AM
After the "arrest" of some suspects in the grisly massacre that killed over 50 people in Maguindanao Monday, Malacañang reminded parties concerned Thursday not to take the law into their hands.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita assured the family of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu that "justice will be served" in the case.
"Sa palagay ko tama lang na paalalahanan sila, huwag silang gagawa ng anumang bagay, Ginagawa ng gobyerno lahat ng magagawa upang mapanagutan ng mga dapat managot ang karumal-dumal na krimen na nangyari riyan," Ermita said in an interview on dzRH radio.
(It is only proper to remind them not to take the law into their own hands. The government is doing everything possible to make sure those behind the crime account for their actions).
His call came hours after the Philippine National Police announced the arrest of some civilian volunteers linked to the crime.
Ermita said they want to avoid a "rido" (blood feud) situation in Mindanao.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is considered a suspect and has sent surrender feelers.
Vice Mayor Mangudadatu lost his wife Genalyn in the massacre, where armed men killed at least over 50 people, many of them journalists.
At the time of the incident, Genalyn was going to a local Commission on Elections office to file a certificate of candidacy on behalf of the vice mayor.
The vice mayor is challenging the Ampatuan clan for the gubernatorial post of Maguindanao province in the 2010 polls.
On the other hand, another Mangudadatu - Rep. Datu Pax - is a representative of Sultan Kudarat and is a member of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
We ask Vice Mayor and Congressman Mangudadatu not to worry. The government will not let its guard down. Justice will be done and we believe this crisis will not last long," Ermita said.
On the other hand, Vice President Noli de Castro insisted that President Gloria Arroyo did not order any kid-glove treatment for the Ampatuan clan.
Members of the Ampatuan clan, political rivals of the Mangudadatus, had been linked to Monday's massacre.
Government's critics claimed Mrs. Arroyo is going easy on the Ampatuans in exchange for their "delivering the votes" for her in 2004 and her senatorial bets in 2007.
De Castro, in an interview on dzXL radio, said Mrs. Arroyo ordered all government forces to take action against those responsible for the massacre.
"During an executive session we had earlier this week, the President ordered all-out action against the perpetrators. We cannot afford to be perceived as being biased in favor of one party in the case," he said.
De Castro also admitted that with the Arroyo administration now on its last few months, it cannot step down without giving closure to the massacre.
"Pag walang nangyari kalimutan na natin ang law and order sa Mindanao (If nothing happens out of this, we can forget about law and order in Mindanao)," he added. - LG, GMANews.TV
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita assured the family of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu that "justice will be served" in the case.
"Sa palagay ko tama lang na paalalahanan sila, huwag silang gagawa ng anumang bagay, Ginagawa ng gobyerno lahat ng magagawa upang mapanagutan ng mga dapat managot ang karumal-dumal na krimen na nangyari riyan," Ermita said in an interview on dzRH radio.
(It is only proper to remind them not to take the law into their own hands. The government is doing everything possible to make sure those behind the crime account for their actions).
His call came hours after the Philippine National Police announced the arrest of some civilian volunteers linked to the crime.
Ermita said they want to avoid a "rido" (blood feud) situation in Mindanao.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is considered a suspect and has sent surrender feelers.
Vice Mayor Mangudadatu lost his wife Genalyn in the massacre, where armed men killed at least over 50 people, many of them journalists.
At the time of the incident, Genalyn was going to a local Commission on Elections office to file a certificate of candidacy on behalf of the vice mayor.
The vice mayor is challenging the Ampatuan clan for the gubernatorial post of Maguindanao province in the 2010 polls.
On the other hand, another Mangudadatu - Rep. Datu Pax - is a representative of Sultan Kudarat and is a member of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
We ask Vice Mayor and Congressman Mangudadatu not to worry. The government will not let its guard down. Justice will be done and we believe this crisis will not last long," Ermita said.
On the other hand, Vice President Noli de Castro insisted that President Gloria Arroyo did not order any kid-glove treatment for the Ampatuan clan.
Members of the Ampatuan clan, political rivals of the Mangudadatus, had been linked to Monday's massacre.
Government's critics claimed Mrs. Arroyo is going easy on the Ampatuans in exchange for their "delivering the votes" for her in 2004 and her senatorial bets in 2007.
De Castro, in an interview on dzXL radio, said Mrs. Arroyo ordered all government forces to take action against those responsible for the massacre.
"During an executive session we had earlier this week, the President ordered all-out action against the perpetrators. We cannot afford to be perceived as being biased in favor of one party in the case," he said.
De Castro also admitted that with the Arroyo administration now on its last few months, it cannot step down without giving closure to the massacre.
"Pag walang nangyari kalimutan na natin ang law and order sa Mindanao (If nothing happens out of this, we can forget about law and order in Mindanao)," he added. - LG, GMANews.TV
