PNP suspends permit to carry guns in Maguindanao

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday suspended all permits allowing civilians to carry firearms in Maguindanao province after the grisly massacre there that left 57 people, including women and journalists, dead. Also affected by the suspension are the province of Sultan Kudarat and the city of Cotabato, according to PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa. "Effective today [Thursday], all permits to carry firearms outside of residence are hereby suspended indefinitely in the areas of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City," Verzosa said in a press conference in Quezon City. The three areas were placed under state of emergency last Tuesday, a day after the massacre in Ampatuan town that is blamed to a member of the powerful Ampatuan clan. Verzosa said all civilians in the areas who will be caught carrying a firearm would be taken into police custody for investigation. The military and the police would be jointly manning checkpoints in the areas covered by the state of emergency, he said.

Also on Thursday, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) took away police powers from Maguindanao acting Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Ampatuan and mayors in the province. [See: DILG's Puno wants Ampatuans, other Maguindanao execs suspended] Sajid is the youngest son of Ampatuan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. Sajid’s brother, Andal Jr., surrendered to authorities Thursday noon to face the allegations that he masterminded the abduction and subsequent execution of the victims, which included members of the Ampatuan’s rival clan, the Mangudadatus. [See: Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. surrenders] Four policemen, including Senior Superintendent Abusal Maguid, the Maguindanao police chief, have been relieved from their posts and flown to Manila for inquest after being tagged in the massacre. Likewise, Chief Superintendent Paisal Umpa, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, have likewise been relieved to give way to an "impartial investigation," according to Verzosa. "We will be asking him to explain more in detail and to give background on what happened in Maguindanao," Verzosa said. While the PNP relieved some of its officials and suspended permits to carry guns, the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its part deactivated four companies of the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA). A total of 347 members of the SCAA had already been disarmed and are subjected under an investigation. The victims were in a six-vehicle convoy on its way to Shariff Aguak town to file the certificate of candidacy of Buluan town mayor Ismael “Toto" Mangudadatu. - GMANews.TV