Malacañang must now effect a total disarmament of all private armies, especially the private armies of political warlords, if the rule of law would be restored and maintained, especially during the forthcoming May 2010 national and local elections, Sen. Rodolfo G. Biazon, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said Thursday.

Biazon issued the call following the issuance by Malacañang of Proclamation No. 1946 disarming the private armies of its allies, in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato city following the ambush and killing of more than 50 persons that included members of the media and some members of the Ampatuan family in Maguindanao last Monday.

Past elections in the Philippines had been marred by violence, perpetrated by armed supporters or private armies of some candidates.

In a related development, Sen. Manuel ‘’Mar’’ A. Roxas II, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order the disarming of all members of militia groups and the replacement of all police personnel in Maguindanao to immediately put a stop to the violence there following the massacre by armed men identified with the ruling Ampatuan clan.

“The abduction and massacre of at least 22 civilians in Maguindanao last November 23 has been described across the nation — and even in the international stage — as one of the most harrowing, senseless and inhuman acts in our recent history,’’ Roxas said. He is the vice presidential candidate of the Liberal Party (LP).

“Such savagery offends and disgusts me as Filipino citizen, and as a human being,’’ he said, adding that government should ‘’bring the perpetrators to justice to avoid further blood-letting in the province’’ and “create a more lasting solution to the ethno-cultural and political strife in the region.’’

Biazon maintained that Malacañang ‘’knew of the eminence of political violence that led to the worst political massacre in Maguindanao because Malacañang had presided over three meetings of the warning political families of the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus in July, August and October to thresh out peace between the two warring families.’’

“On the very morning that the massacre was being perpetrated, Malacañang was closeted with one of the warring families to avert what was happening that morning. Malacanang failed to take all the necessary measures to prevent this political violence in spite of the fact that they were aware of the situation in Maguindanao,’’ he said. Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan was reportedly at Malacañang at the time of the massacre.