Martial Law in Maguindanao: US gov't says:

Martial Law in Maguindanao

Now, therefore I, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby proclaim as follows:

Sec. 1: There is hereby declared a state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao except for the identified areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as referred to in the implementing operational guidelines of the GRP-MILF agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.

Sec. 2: The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall likewise be suspended in the aforesaid area for the duration of the state of martial law.

Done in the City of Manila this 4th day of December in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

(Originally Signed)

Gloria M. Arroyo

By the President:

(Originally Signed)

Eduardo Ermita
Executive Secretary

Congress in Joint Session

House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile jointly preside over the historic opening of the joint session of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa solely convened to tackle Presidential Proclamation No. 1959 declaring Martial Law in the province of Maguindanao, following the gruesome and brutal killing of more than 50 people including more than a dozen members of the media. The ongoing joint session will vote on whether to concur or revoke the presidential edict. Shown are Senators and Congressmen listening intently during plenary proceedings of Congress which converted itself into a "committee of the whole" to allow members of the President's Cabinet, led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, and DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, to explain and answer all queries raised in plenary to justify the presidential proclamation.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

US gov't says:

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney on Saturday said the US government is monitoring the implementation of martial law in Maguindanao and warned authorities against committing human rights violations.

“I think, like many others, the United States will be watching to see how it's implemented, watching carefully to make sure human rights are respected,” Kenney said.

Kenney said she has yet to talk to Philippine officials on how they intend to implement it.

“I'll be interested to hear from them. How they intend to implement this? How long will this be in place, and how we're doing on the investigation and on creating the kind of conditions so that Maguindanao never again sees this kind of massacre, and that development, prosperity increase and improve there,” she said.

Martial Law in Maguindanao