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Over 1,000 cops sacked, 400 militiamen disarmed in Maguindanao


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. Earlier, security forces took into custody several local government officials including clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his three sons linked to the Nov. 23 grisly killings. Andal Sr. was taken into government custody at about 11 p.m. Friday, some two hours after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the martial law proclamation in the southern Philippine province due to the "imminent security threat" in the area. Andal Sr., however, first had to be brought to the Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City after his blood pressure shot up. Col. Oscar Lactao, chief of Task Force Davao said he could not tell when Andal Sr. might be discharged from the hospital, but assured that military security around the hospital would remain tight. Meanwhile, Zaldy, the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and his brothers, acting Governor Sajid Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar, were brought to the provincial police headquarters in Maguindanao. - GMANews.TV

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