Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said Monday the recommendation to declare martial law in Maguindanao is a sensitive matter that needs to be studied, saying the government will have to evaluate how the situation develops in the province.

Gonzales, at the same time, said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should keep off the issue on the November 23 massacre that claimed the lives of 57 people, including women and journalists, even as he said that the military remains on top of the situation in Maguindanao.

One of the Arroyo administration’s allies in Congress, Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Justice, earlier urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to declare martial law in Maguindanao “to suppress lawless violence” and effect the immediate arrest of suspects behind the gruesome killing of 57 persons in Ampatuan town.

In an interview after a wreath laying ceremony in honor of the 146th birthday of Gat Andres Bonifacio at the Philippine Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Gonzales said, “titingnan natin (we will see) how the situation develops there,” when asked about Defensor’s recommendation.

“As of now, I think whatever the government is doing so far is really effective. We will wait for the results of the work of Secretary Devanadera of Justice and also Secretary Puno of DILG. So, so far maganda naman yun takbo ng ating operation doon,” Gonzales said.

“Yung tungkol sa martial law, alam mo sensitive na bagay yan kaya pag-aaralan natin,” he said.

While the present situation in the province appears to be stable, what is more important is to ensure that concrete actions are taken to give justice to the victims of the massacre, Gonzales said.

On the possibility of the MILF taking actions after Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., prime suspect in the massacre pointed to the group, particularly one of its leaders as the ones responsible for the crime, Gonzales said they are doing everything to prevent this from happening.

“I cannot tell you the details of it. But we are doing what we need to do para 'yang MILF huwag makikialam dito. Meron kaming ginagawa. Kaya quiet na lang muna kami, trabaho na lang muna,” Gonzales said.

“Meron tayong peace process, on going at maganda naman ang ating communication line with the MILF. Isa yan sa ginagawa natin, sinasabi natin sa MILF na huwag na muna silang makialam dito dahil makakagulo lang and I don’t think they would,” he said.

“Ang alam ko sa MILF tinitingnan kung ano nangyayari pero wala naman ginagawang makakaabala sa ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan,” he said.