BBC World News: Martial Law declared in Maguindanao Update

Officials said they acted after receiving reports that armed groups loyal to the Ampatuan clan were planning an insurrection.

Among those taken into custody were Andal Ampatuan Sr, a powerful local official, and one of his sons, Zaldy - governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which includes Maguindanao.
Another son, Andal Ampatuan Jr, has been charged with 25 counts of murder and has so far been the main suspect in the case.

Prosecutors have issued subpoenas to six members of the Ampatuan family, including Andal Ampatuan Sr, to appear at a hearing on 18 December.

The BBC's Rachel Harvey says this is a politically sensitive move by President Arroyo.
The government said it had intelligence that armed groups were plotting an offensive.

Former Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law nationwide from 1972 until 1981. He stayed in power until 1986.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Maguindanao Massacre
• martial law
• Gloria Arroyo
• Gibo teodoro

[Itherean]

What should the President do? She will actually not declare Martial Law but, because of lawless violence and rampant massacre, she has to do it. And now, they were protesting for fear she will abused it to stay in power like Marcos. If there will be objections against Martial Law, then what should be the other remedy if they believed to be right?

[garju101]

Mate what do you expect from these leftist radicals, they criticise for the sake of criticising. Rachel Harvey of the BBC couldn't have put it any better, there was widespread clamour for decisive action by the President however this same voices are now protesting the imposition of martial law.

It's a classic damn if you do, damn if you don't predicament for the President; having said that, the President has recently lifted the proclamation which made those militant groups look utterly stupid.

[Anubayan7]

I just wonder what would they feel if those activists were living in Maguindanao and they were the enemies of the clan.

Stupid Indiots!

Rule of Law must be imposed, the clan must be wiped out!

[VestrumBryce]

thanks for sharing this...

[justustwoforever]

I voted for martial law in Maguindanao!..YOU PEOPLE JUST DONT KNOW WHAT MUSLIMS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF!..DONT JUDGE if you werent there!!!...

[halimawsapalasyo]

ITONG MGA PUTANG INANG BUWAYANG ITO ANG UTAK SA Pekeng Martial LAW. DAPAT MANAGOT SA BAYAN AT DAPAT BILANGGO SILA PAG WALA NA ANG AMO NILANG SI GLORIA DEMONYO ARROYO AT MIKE BUWAYA ARROYO. ITONG SI ERMITA AT REMONDEDE AT SI NORBEERTO GONZALAZ ANG MAY UTAK NITONG PEKENG MARTIAL LAW. IKULONG ANG MGA SALARIN. BITAYIN ANG MGA MAPAGSAMANTALA AT PUGUTAN NG ULO ANG MGA BUWAYANG NASA MALAKANYANG. SILA ANG SALOT SA BAYAN.

[Itherean]

"Philippines" (noun) is the name of the country without regard to "s". Filipino/s (adjective) refers to citizens. (Not only inhabitants because we call Filipinos for aliens decided to acquire and to be naturalized Filipino citizenship).

[IchiAndJohnPlease]

Hence the apostrophe.

[garju101]

I'm afraid you're mistaken; the BBC uses "Philippines" as an adjective to the noun province. It has nothing to do with the plural or singular form which you should be well aware apply to nouns and pronouns less so to adjectives. Also the BBC does not follow American English which you guys back home are use to seeing or hearing. I hope this clarifies things, the BBC is quite strict with its English and there is a robust editorial process at the BBC that ensures correct grammatical structure.