ARMM placed under control of national government

CEBU, Philippines - President Gloria Arroyo placed the entire Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) yesterday under the full control of the national government.

She also gave Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno the authority to suspend and appoint local and police officials to prevent the possible spread of violence in the aftermath of the grisly killings of at least 57 people last Monday.

 Mrs. Arroyo made the move following a closed-door meeting with Puno, Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and other security officials at the Palace.

During the meeting, Puno pressed for his recommendation to suspend all local officials in Maguindanao, the site of the massacre of at least 57 people, including the wife of a local politician from the Mangudadatu clan, women and journalists.

 “I would like to inform you that the President authorized Secretary Puno, or has given Secretary Puno or has delegated to Secretary Puno full powers of supervision to the ARMM which means he is now free to carry out his own recommendations he wants to implement,” Remonde told a news briefing.

 Puno said the full supervision of the ARMM would remain in force until case is completely resolved and peace and order in the area is stable.

 The President earlier placed Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City under the state of emergency to give the police and the military a free hand in pursuing the killers and prevent the possible breakout of violence.

There are fears that there would be another blood bath, this time triggered by the clan war between the Ampatuans, who are accused of being behind the massacre, and the Mangudadatus.

 He said the powers given to Puno include the “possible suspension of all local government officials of Maguindanao, possible relief of all police and military commanders in the area.”

 He said Puno can appoint officers-in-charge to posts that would be vacated by any suspension order.

 The ARMM Governor is Zaldy Ampatuan, whose brother, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation being the prime suspect in the massacre.

“In some places—considering that we have put the area under a state of emergency—if it’s necessary to put military commanders, we’ll put military commanders,” Remonde said.

 He however said the usual local governance functions will proceed unimpeded. The move, he said, would ensure normal and smooth government operations while the situation remains tense.

 “Part of the responsibility of Secretary Puno, when he does that is to ensure that he relieves or suspends anybody, appropriate replacements will be installed to ensure the continued good functioning of government,” Remonde said. —with AJ de la Torre/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)