Buluan town Mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu Saturday welcomed the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao, even as he called on the government to immediately file charges against members of the Ampatuan clan, who are implicated in the massacre of 57 people last week. Mangudadatu, whose sisters and aunt were killed in the bloodbath, was quoted as saying in a television report that while martial law has given the Armed Forces a free hand to apprehend the suspects, the relationship between Malaca?ang and the Arroyo-allied family has remained strong. In line with this, he called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act swiftly and to hold the Ampatuans accountable for the murders before their lawyers can work on their release. “Their family is so powerful. I hope the DOJ will act immediately and file charges,” Mangudadatu said. Earlier, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced that the President has already placed the province under martial law to suppress the possible escalation of “lawless” violence in the Maguindanao. After the declaration of martial law, security forces took into custody of several local government officials including family patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan. Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu, who heads the investigation of the Maguindanao massacre, said the two are in the provincial police headquarters in Maguindanao for questioning. “They are in government custody as well as other elected officials. We just have a few important questions to ask them,” he said.
