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Martial law in Maguindanao to be lifted 9 p.m., Saturday


(UPDATE 5 - 5:26 pm) The martial law imposed in Maguindanao province since December 4 will be lifted at 9 p.m., Saturday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Saturday afternoon during a press briefing in Malacañang. The province will however remain under a state of emergency. The announcement came a day after Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago warned of a "conspiracy" that would bring about martial rule beyond Maguindanao and preempt next year's elections. "The rebellion has been addressed...Law and order have been restored but the state of emergency continues under Proclamation 1946," Ermita told reporters after the National Security Council meeting at the Palace. During the press briefing, Ermita summarized the administration's accomplishments in crushing rebellion in Maguindanao, three weeks after members of the Ampatuan clan allegedly massacred 57 people, including 30 journalists in Ampatuan town. He said three charges for multiple murder had been filed before the courts while 247 other charges were referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Twenty-four people were slapped with rebellion charges, while 638 other rebellion cases had been referred to the DOJ. Sixty two people had been arrested for rebellion; 128 members of the Civilian Volunteer Organizations had surrendered, while 339 others had been placed under the custody of authorities. Rebel or "offensive" positions in the towns of Ampatuan, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Sa Barongis, Datu Unsay, Mamasapano, and Shariff Aguak had also been "cleared" by the police and the military, according to Ermita. He said the criminal justice system in the province "is now in place and working," as well as the operations of the local government, which "have been restored to normalcy," after the appointment of Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “In view of these accomplishments under martial law, Proclamation 1959 declaring Martial Law suspending the privilege of habeas corpus... will be lifted effective 9 p.m. today," said Ermita.

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Last December 4, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation 1959 placing Maguindanao under martial rule. Earlier, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Malacañang would lift martial law once its police and military commanders on the ground meet the following objectives:
  • The “rebellion" in Maguindanao has stopped;
  • The suspects in the Nov. 23 massacre have been arrested;
  • Charges have been filed against the suspects in the massacre;
  • Witnesses of the massacre have been secured;
  • Maguidanao has been restored partially or fully to civilian government; and
  • Illegal armed groups have been disarmed.
Ermita said all six conditions had been met, prompting the administration to lift martial law imposition in Maguindanao. - ARCS, JHU, TJD, GMANews.TV
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