THE government officials in Maguindanao have been stripped of their power over the police after the massacre of 57 civilians in the town of Ampatuan, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said yesterday.
“The Napolcom [National Police Commission] has unanimously adopted a resolution withdrawing the deputation powers of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and all mayors of the province,” Puno told reporters in Camp Crame.
“This effectively strips them of all their powers over the local [police] in their respective areas of responsibility.”
Puno said he would recommend to President Gloria Arroyo that the governor and all other local officials being investigated be put under preventive suspension.
The military has also reported the disarming of 347 militiamen in the area.
Puno briefed reporters after Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the Maguindanao governor and suspected mastermind of the massacre, surrendered to authorities but denied any involvement in the killings.
The wife and relatives of the Ampatuans’ political rival, Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and at least 18 journalists were among those killed.
Puno said four police officers allegedly involved in the incident were removed from their posts and and have been under camp arrest since Monday.
The officers—Senior Supt. Agusana Maguid, officer in charge; Chief Insp. Sukarno Dicay, OIC, deputy police director; Senior Insp. Ariel Diongson, OIC, Group Director of the 1508th Provincial Mobile Group; and SPO2 Badawi Bakal;, OIC of the Datu Ampatuan Police Station—would be flown from Cotabato City to Manila along with other suspects to undergo inquest proceedings.
Three other officials—Chief Supt. Faisal Umpa, regional director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Insp. Armando Mariga and Insp. Saudi Mokamad—were also relieved.
Puno said the government had also replaced all police officers in Maguindanao, secured the provincial capitol building and the municipal halls of Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak, and placed under investigation all policemen of the Ampatuan police station for possible complicity in the crime.
Law enforcers also ensured that four local militia units, with a total of 347 men, were disarmed and deactivated.
Puno said that since his department had no jurisdiction over government agencies in autonomous regions, he would ask the President to put all local executives implicated in the massacre under preventive suspension pending an investigation.
“Forceful measures have been taken quietly since Monday while not allowing armed groups, including the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front], from taking control of the area,” Puno said.
He also said that National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa had suspended all permits to carry firearms in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.
Acting Armed Forces Chief Rodrigo Maclang said the 46th Infantry Battalion, which was supposed to be redeployed to Samar, would stay in Maguindanao to keep the peace.
“Today, we’ve added one more infantry battalion, one Scout Ranger company, one Special Forces company and two mechanized infantry battalions,” Maclang said.
Police went on heightened alert yesterday for a possible spillover of the clan war between the Mangudadatus and the Ampatuans in Metro Manila and in other parts of Mindanao.
National police director for operations Andres Caro II said both political clans had residences in Metro Manila, Davao City, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato.
“We have already identified their residences and we are monitoring these areas,” Caro said.
Authorities were also securing schools such as the Ateneo de Davao University and the Philippine Women’s College, where the children of the Ampatuans and Mangudadatus are studying.
The European Union condemned the killings, saying it was “confident that the responsible authorities in the Philippines will do their utmost to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice without delay.” With Joyce Pangco Pañares, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Ferliza C. Contratista, PNA
