Fresh outbreak of violence in Maguindanao, including the burning down of several houses, looting and ransacking of villages and the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak, would only prolong the state of emergency in the Ampatuan-led province, Malacañang warned Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesman for economic affairs Gary Olivar said the recent lawlessness in the province would be used by the National Security Council whether to lift the state of emergency there or buttress the continued imposition of such measure.

“If violence continues there, this would be an important factor in the decision of the National Security Council whether or not to maintain the state of emergency in Maguindanao,” he told government-run Radio ng Bayan.

“It does not help the case for the lifting of the state of emergency kung meron pong mga ganung klaseng violence (if there are such kinds of violence),” he added.

Reports said Shariff Aguak residents have left their homes out of fear that unidentified armed men would launch more attacks in the capital town, particularly in Barangay Poblacion, after reports of widespread looting and arson.

Meanwhile, Olivar scoffed at the Netherlands-based Smartmatic Corp. for blaming Mrs. Arroyo’s state of emergency proclamation as the reason behind its delayed preparations for automated polls in Maguindanao and neighboring provinces, including Sultan Kudarat.

“They should have to explain the details why they said that. It is not clear to me how the state of emergency would affect their preparations. The state of emergency was imposed to bring everything under the control. We hope that this will not be used as an excuse for underperformance,” he said.

He advised the company to seek help from government security forces should they encounter peace and order problems.

“We encourage them to do their best. We cannot make the situation in Maguindanao an excuse for underperformance on the commitment to deliver automated elections,” the official said.