Puno: ARMM still exercising autonomy!
MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno assured the people that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) continues to enjoy its autonomy despite the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao.
Puno said ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, who was arrested along with eight other relatives for rebellion, was replaced by his lawful successor ARMM Vice Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong.
“To date the regional governor continues to take charge of the entire autonomous region. Whatever supervision is exercised over autonomous region has to be exercised through the regional governor,” Puno said during a forum.
Puno clarified that President Arroyo merely transferred to the DILG the supervision in the region.
“So although there is supervision, this was merely transferred from Office of the President to DILG and the supervision does not impair autonomy of the region, the region continues to be autonomous… what we need to do now is to examine the responsibilities of the regional governor over the exercise of his duties,” he pointed out.
Mrs. Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao to restore peace and order, which has been affected after the gruesome murder of 57 persons, including over 30 journalists and relatives of a political rival of the Ampatuan clan.
Among the dead were the wife of Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao and two of his sisters, two female lawyers and 30 media men who covered the supposed filing of certificate of candidacy of the vice mayor who is running for governor of Maguindanao to challenge a scion of the Ampatuan clan.
The Mangudadatus have blamed the Ampatuans for the incident, specifically pointing to Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao as the leader of 100 armed men who abducted Mangudadatu’s supporters.
The Ampatuan family has denied any involvement in the killings.
Andal Jr., who turned himself in last month, is the only one charged with multiple counts of murder.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said prosecutors would file rebellion charges against the other Ampatuans who were arrested over the weekend for allegedly organizing armed resistance.
Government troops arrested ARMM Gov. Ampatuan, his father and clan patriarch former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., several relatives and more than 50 supporters after President Arroyo declared martial law in the province last Saturday.
Defense and military authorities raised yesterday the Philippine flag at the Maguindanao provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak town in an apparent display of government control.
Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Armed Forces vice chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Eastern Mindanao Command chief and military administrator in Maguindanao Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, and local Army battalion commanders led the regular Monday flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol.
Alcantara said civilian employees of the provincial government joined the ceremony.
The situation in the province has prevented some employees from reporting for work.
“We would like to assure the employees that social services should not be hampered by this situation,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said in a separate interview.
He said one of the objectives of imposing martial law is to restore normalcy in the area and the flag ceremony has signified that the government is in full control of the situation.
“It also shows that the people have pledged their allegiance to the flag,” he said.
Brawner said one of the conditions for imposing martial law is the loss of the people’s allegiance to the flag and the duly constituted authorities.
Army and police operatives padlocked yesterday the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) of the ARMM inside the 32-hectare ARMM compound in Cotabato City.
Employees of the ORG, dubbed as the ARMM’s little Malacañang, were surprised when the armed troops used chains to close the front door of the 4,000-square-meter two-storey building.
Policemen also placed a written notice at the entrance of the building entrance that included a directive from the Philippine National Police ordering the closure of the ORG, the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, and the municipal centers of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan towns.
“We were surprised to see the doors of the ORG closed. Of course we don’t question this action by the PNP because we are aware of the situation the ARMM regional government is in,” said a Muslim government employee. – With James Mananghaya, John Unson, Helen Flores
By Cecile Suerte Felipe
The Philippine Star
Puno said ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, who was arrested along with eight other relatives for rebellion, was replaced by his lawful successor ARMM Vice Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong.
“To date the regional governor continues to take charge of the entire autonomous region. Whatever supervision is exercised over autonomous region has to be exercised through the regional governor,” Puno said during a forum.
Puno clarified that President Arroyo merely transferred to the DILG the supervision in the region.
“So although there is supervision, this was merely transferred from Office of the President to DILG and the supervision does not impair autonomy of the region, the region continues to be autonomous… what we need to do now is to examine the responsibilities of the regional governor over the exercise of his duties,” he pointed out.
Mrs. Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao to restore peace and order, which has been affected after the gruesome murder of 57 persons, including over 30 journalists and relatives of a political rival of the Ampatuan clan.
Among the dead were the wife of Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao and two of his sisters, two female lawyers and 30 media men who covered the supposed filing of certificate of candidacy of the vice mayor who is running for governor of Maguindanao to challenge a scion of the Ampatuan clan.
The Mangudadatus have blamed the Ampatuans for the incident, specifically pointing to Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao as the leader of 100 armed men who abducted Mangudadatu’s supporters.
The Ampatuan family has denied any involvement in the killings.
Andal Jr., who turned himself in last month, is the only one charged with multiple counts of murder.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said prosecutors would file rebellion charges against the other Ampatuans who were arrested over the weekend for allegedly organizing armed resistance.
Government troops arrested ARMM Gov. Ampatuan, his father and clan patriarch former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., several relatives and more than 50 supporters after President Arroyo declared martial law in the province last Saturday.
Defense and military authorities raised yesterday the Philippine flag at the Maguindanao provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak town in an apparent display of government control.
Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Armed Forces vice chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Eastern Mindanao Command chief and military administrator in Maguindanao Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, and local Army battalion commanders led the regular Monday flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol.
Alcantara said civilian employees of the provincial government joined the ceremony.
The situation in the province has prevented some employees from reporting for work.
“We would like to assure the employees that social services should not be hampered by this situation,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said in a separate interview.
He said one of the objectives of imposing martial law is to restore normalcy in the area and the flag ceremony has signified that the government is in full control of the situation.
“It also shows that the people have pledged their allegiance to the flag,” he said.
Brawner said one of the conditions for imposing martial law is the loss of the people’s allegiance to the flag and the duly constituted authorities.
Army and police operatives padlocked yesterday the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) of the ARMM inside the 32-hectare ARMM compound in Cotabato City.
Employees of the ORG, dubbed as the ARMM’s little Malacañang, were surprised when the armed troops used chains to close the front door of the 4,000-square-meter two-storey building.
Policemen also placed a written notice at the entrance of the building entrance that included a directive from the Philippine National Police ordering the closure of the ORG, the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, and the municipal centers of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan towns.
“We were surprised to see the doors of the ORG closed. Of course we don’t question this action by the PNP because we are aware of the situation the ARMM regional government is in,” said a Muslim government employee. – With James Mananghaya, John Unson, Helen Flores
By Cecile Suerte Felipe
The Philippine Star
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