KIDAPAWAN CITY – For the first time after Maguindanao was placed under martial law, soldiers raised the Philippine flag in Montawal, a town located southwest of the province, at around 8 a.m. Monday.

Philippine flags were also raised in the towns of Pagalungan and Upper Kabuntalan by members of the 602nd Infantry Brigade (IB), a unit of the 6th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army that is now in control of the southwest portion of the province.

The ceremony was attended by local government officials, including their employees and staff.

Lt. Col. Cesar Sidello, of the 602nd Brigade, said the flag raising ceremony was a proof the military is supporting the civil government even if the province is under martial rule.

“We will support the civil government, especially on its normal functions. Our primary task is to prevent lawless violence while the province is under our control,” said Sidello in a radio interview.

The military, he stressed, is guided by the general intent of Proclamation Number 1959, which includes restoration of peace and order and the deactivation of armed private groups, especially the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) of the Ampatuan clan.

The 602nd Brigade has limitations despite the powers given to the military, according to Lt. Col. Domingo Gubuay, the ground commander of the towns of Montawal, Pagalungan, and Upper Kabuntalan.

“We will respect and protect civil liberties to make sure there would be no violations of the human rights while the law is still in effect,” said Domingo.

The martial law declaration was done 12 days after the brutal slay of 57 individuals, including media personalities and innocent travelers on November 23 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Few hours after martial law was declared, arrests of some of the members of the Ampatuan clan implicated in the mass murder were made, including Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan and Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr.