The patriarch of the powerful Ampatuan political clan, Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., his three sons, and several local chief executives of the province were arrested Saturday hours after President Arroyo placed the province under a state of martial law.

As this developed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured the public there is nothing to fear with the Proclamation No. 1959 “proclaiming a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao,” saying no random arrests will be made as government troops in the area being closely monitored to prevent abuses like in what happened in the 70’s.

The AFP gave the assurance as government security forces took full control of Maguindanao after President Arroyo placed the province under martial law effective 9 p.m. Friday, almost two weeks after the now infamous Maguindanao massacre of 57 people, including 30 journalists and two lawyers.

Aside from Gov. Ampatuan Sr., also under police custody are Autonoumous Region inMuslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, his brothers Vice Gov. Akhmad Datu Ampatuan, and Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan. Also in custody of the police now are Paisal Sulaik, Keiser Usman, and Kabuntalan Amblawa.

Ampatuan Sr. in hospital

Gov. Ampatuan Sr. was later taken to the Davao Doctor’s Hospital after complaining of discomfort hours after Maguindanao was placed under a state of martial law.

Earlier, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, surrendered to authorities and is now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office in Manila.

At least six Ampatuans have been arrested, including another son of the Maguindanao governor, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) main office in Manila facing 25 counts of murder for the massacre.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr, AFP spokesman, said several others have also voluntarily showed up to authorities but those whose names are not in the list of the suspects in the November 23 massacre were immediately released.

To ease apprehension by some sectors about the possibility of abuses, Brawner said AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Victor Ibrado and all other commanders on the ground, particularly 6th Infantry Division commander, Major Gen. Anthony Alcantara, and 601st Infantry Brigade commander, Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, “that our soldiers will not abuse the power.”

Ibrado has reportedly given strict instructions to soldiers in the area to “maintain the state of discipline and professionalism.”

“Our mandate is clear, which is to provide security in the area.

We will maintain peace and order and we will arrest people in the list with the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Brawner said, as he emphasized “the AFP and PNP are going after the perpetrators of the crime but there will be no random arrests.”

“We have a list which was made by the PNP and only the names in the list will be invited,” according to the AFP spokesman.

He further explained that the extent of the commander on the ground, Ferrer, is only up to maintaining peace and order and in arresting people in the list.

Martial law commander

As the martial law commander in the area, Ferrer shall see to it that security and order is maintained in the province but no way shall he intervene in the administrative functions of the local government.

“So definitely ’yun commander hindi siya makikialam, clear ’yun. Security and peace and order lang ang concern niya. Yun ang critical dun, to maintain peace and order dahil one of the basis ng pag-declare ng martial law ay yun namonitor naming na mga armed groups,” Brawner said.

Because of the presence of armed groups, the AFP said threat was evident as these groups could wreak havoc , therefore it was necessary to impose martial law in the province to prevent more violence and bloodshed.

As soon as the government troops took over following the declaration of martial law, facilities, including municipal halls and the capitol hall were immediately secured and closed to prevent important files from being destroyed by forces loyal to the Ampatuans.

Ferrer has said there is now semblance of normalcy in the situation in the area following the arrest of the Ampatuans.

The martial law commander also said there was no need to impose curfew, while journalists will not be restricted in their regular coverage of events in the province, particularly developments on the investigation of the massacre.

Meanwhile, acting Maguindanao Governor Sajid Ampatuan, son of Ampatuan Sr., has been invited by the military.

Authorities said other members of the Ampatuan clan are also the subject of police and military operations.

“I’m not really sure of the number but there are still more,” Verzosa said in a phone interview when asked how many more Ampatuans are the subject of their operation.

Except those who were already recommended for filing of multiple murder case in connection with the massacre, Verzosa said the Ampatuans that were already taken and would be taken will be placed under their custody for a maximum of three days – if a case will not be filed against them.

Earlier, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recommended the inclusion of Ampatuan Sr.; Bahnarin Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano town; his grandson Datu Ulo Ampatuan; Datu Kanor Ampatuan, vice mayor of Salibo town; and, Tony Kenis Ampatuan, a member of police auxiliary for both the towns of Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak.

Also included in the referral letter to the Department of Justice were Muhamad Sangki, a member of the municipal council of Datu Abdullah Sangki town; Tammy Masukat, Tumi Timba Abas, police auxiliary for both Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay towns; a certain Kumander Beri, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) of Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak towns; a certain Dahutay, member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) assigned in Ampatuan town; Police Officer 1 Abbey Guiadem, chief of police of Datu Unsay town; and two other CVO members who were collared and later found out that one of the firearms seized from them was indeed used in the carnage.

Those who were referred to the DoJ, the official said, are expected to stay longer under their custody pending the resolution of the recommendation that the police made for their inclusion in the filing of multiple murder case.

But Verzosa stressed that they are now looking for the other Ampatuans not because of their involvement in the massacre but for the threat they posed in connection with the operation they are now conducting in Maguindanao.

“The main consideration now of others not mentioned in the charge sheet is their maintenance of CVOs and SCAA (Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary),” said Verzosa.

“So it is not necessarily connected with the massacre,” he added.

Ampatuan supporters massing up – police

In the interview, Verzosa confirmed military intelligence reports that more than a hundred armed supporters of the Ampatuans are now massing up in several areas in Maguindanao.
Some of those armed supporters, Verzosa disclosed, are even led by relatives of the Ampatuans.

“We have reports of armed men sighting in several areas in Maguindanao, like in Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay,” said Verzosa.

This is the reason, Verzosa said, why the declaration of the martial law is imminent in Maguindanao as these armed supporters are expected to clash with security forces anytime.

On Thursday, a cache of guns and high-powered firearms which police said are enough to supply a battalion (composed of more or less 500 men) of security forces some 300 meters away from the houses of the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak town.

The raids on the house of the Ampatuans the following day also yielded some firearms and ammunition.

What further disturbed security officials are the confirmed reports that some of the gunmen identified to have been involved in the massacre have also started to group themselves to fight it out with security forces which are out to arrest them.

Such brazen act of show of force, police officials said, is an indication that they might opt to clash with government forces rather than be arrested.

“If you remember, there are at least 100 men suspected to be involved in the massacre, we have reports that they already linked up along with some sympathizers, they are already spotted in some areas,” said Verzosa.

Verzosa said the government would not blink on the reported massing up of a number of armed men in Maguindanao, saying their target is to maintain peace and order in the province and get all the suspects to make them accountable for the massacre.

And since part of the declaration of martial law is the suspension of habeas corpus, Verzosa said they will use that provision in the massive manhunt against the gunmen involved in the grisly murders of 30 media workers and civilians on November 23 in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town.

“That’s what it (suspension of habeas corpus) means and we need it to solve the crime and arrest the violent persons,” said Verzosa.

Police to seal off Maguindanao

The PNP chief also said that part of the operation they are now conducting in Maguindanao is to seal off the entire province in order to prevent the escape of those involved in the massacre.

Thousands of policemen and soldiers were already deployed in Maguindanao and some of them are conducting checkpoints in all the entry and exit points of the province.

For his part, Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said that they would mobilize all the local public information offices of the PNP in Mindanao to explain to Maguindanao that there is no cause for alarm amid the declaration of martial law in the province. (With reports from Nonoy E. Lacson and Jeamma E. Sabate)