Police urged the Maguindanao provincial government Saturday to impose a 12-hour curfew to curb increasing incidents of looting in the province. Superintendent Alex Lineses, acting provincial police director, said police and military units have been conducting 24-hour patrol operations since the lootings started in the province, which is under a state of emergency. Maguindanao is said to be ruled by the Ampatuan clan wjp were blamed for the murders of 57 people, including 31, journalist in an election-related incident. Members of the feared clan have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the massacre and for allegedly leading an armed rebellion. Lineses said the group responsible in “isolated” looting incidents is composed of at least 20 people. He said the same group could have been responsible in the looting of the Commission on Election's office in Shariff Aguak, the province's capital town. He said security forces have arrested one looter, an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the separatist group has confirmed that the looter is their member. “This is an isolated case. It's minimal,” he said, adding that the looters only took a rice cooker, a water dispenser, plates and curtains at the Comelec provincial office on Monday. He denied earlier reports that election paraphernalia and important election documents were taken by the looters, who were able to forcibly enter the office despite roaming police and military guards at the provincial capitol. “We have a proposal to Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto to impose a curfew,” Lineses said. He said they are proposing a 9 P.M. to 9 A.M. curfew in the whole province. Meanwhile, Lineses denied that the province has been gripped by terror due to reports of looting. There were reports that the looters are armed and have been targetting private homes. He said that despite the usual roaming of patrol teams of the police and the military, Maguindanaoans are always “merry making” at night. He said several residents are now more confident of their security since the lifting of the state of martial law in the province and the arrest of the suspects in the massacre of 57 people last Nov. 23. – ABS
