GMA should suspend Ampatuans in Government posts, order arrest of state forces with blood in their hands- Maza

Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party today challenged the Arroyo administration to immediately issue preventive suspension orders on all Ampatuans holding public office and order the arrest State forces allegedly involved in the massacre that killed at least 57 people in Maguindanao, especially within the 36 hour-period when the Department of Justice will ascertain the liability of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in the incident.

Maza cited Sec.63 of the Local Government Code (LGC) which may be imposed by no less than the President when “evidence of guilt is strong, and given the gravity of the offense, there is great probability that the continuance in the office of the respondents could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence.

Aside from Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is mayor of Shariff Aguak, the following Ampatuans are local chief executives in their respective areas: Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. (Maguindanao Governor), Sajid Islam Ampatuan (Maguindanao Vice Governor), and Zaldy Ampatuan (ARMM Governor).

 “If President Arroyo is giving more weight and maintaining her good relations with the Ampatuans than the Filipino people’s clamor for justice, then she better resign as well. We do not want to think that she would also use her position to sway the entire process of giving justice to the victims and their families,” said Maza.

Maza also stressed that officers and members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the province should also be arrested for their alleged involvement and possible complicity in the incident. Among those police officials involved is Chief Inspector Zukarno Adil Dicay, Maguindanao PNP provincial director, who was seen by witnesses as among the armed men led by Ampatuan Jr.  ###