Declaration of martial law
On December 4, 2009, through Proclamation No. 1959, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has officially placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law.[33] The declaration also suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province. The announcement was made days after hundreds of government troops were sent to the province, which would later raid armories of the powerful Ampatuan clan. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the step was taken in order to avert the escalation of "lawless" violence in the province and pave the way for the swift arrest of the suspects in the massacre. [34][35]
Following the declaration, authorities carried out a raid on a warehouse owned by Andal Ampatuan Jr., the alleged mastermind of the massacre.[36] The raid resulted in the confiscation of more than 330,000 live rounds of M16 rifle ammunition, and the arrest of 20 militiamen. Also confiscated in the raid were several firearms, a military humvee and an improvised armored vehicle.[37]
It was lifted on December 13, 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment