Malacañang is studying carefully whether or not it is safe to lift the state of emergency in three areas in Mindanao that was declared eight months ago by the past administration.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said the government has to ensure the peace and order situation is stable in the review of the emergency proclamation in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.

Ochoa, speaking to Palace reporters last Thursday night, admitted that the security situation in the affected places in Mindanao remains a “highly sensitive issue” following the gruesome murder that took place in Maguindanao last November.

“It is being studied. We want to know its impact, how is the state of emergency being implemented now, if it’s still necessary, we have to study that,” he said when asked about President Aquino’s decision on the emergency proclamation.

Also being considered is “what will happen next” if the government lifts the emergency proclamation, according to Ochoa. “We are trying to figure out which is best for these areas. It is a very delicate situation, very highly sensitive issue because of the incident that occurred there,” he added.

President Arroyo relinquished her post last June 30 without lifting the state of emergency in the affected areas in Mindanao. The emergency proclamation was kept supposedly to quell any lawlessness in the aftermath of the Maguindanao massacre.