DOJ chief: Ampatuans face rebellion raps
MANILA - Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said on Saturday afternoon that many of those who will be arrested in Maguindanao after President Arroyo's declaration of martial law in the province will be charged with rebellion.
“Lahat ng mahuhuli ngayon rebellion na ang kaso nila… Lahat ng mahuhuli during this martial law and after processing then they will be charged for that,” Devanadera said at a press conference in Malacañang.
The justice secretary’s statement came amid criticisms that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1959, declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao, was without legal basis.
Critics of the declaration, among them human rights lawyers and opposition leaders, said the proclamation cannot be justified since there is no rebellion or invasion going on in Maguindanao.
But Devanadera explained there is rebellion in Maguindanao, citing police and military reports of groups of armed men massing in the whole province.
Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, operations chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said they have received intelligence reports that armed supporters of the Ampatuans, in groups of between 50 to 100, were seen in 8 areas.
There were also indications that "violence was imminent," as the government tightened its hold on the province. He said these groups had the capability of attacking the Ampatuans' rivals, the Mangudadatus, or mobile phone sites.
Arms cache
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in an earlier press conference, said the sightings of armed groups were aggravated by the discovery of a huge arms cache from a vacant lot near the residence of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan.
The military said the weapons recovered from the vacant lot can supply a brigade-size military unit.
“We have evaluated different reports submitted by law enforcement agencies. We have found that in some areas, rebellion has been completed because they have removed from the duly constituted authorities the allegiance of people because they don’t follow authorities,” Devandera said.
She said judicial offices in the province have been shut down because all judges and prosecutors have taken leaves of absence to avoid being involved in cases filed against members of the powerful political clan of the Ampatuans.
The justice secretary added that municipal and other government offices have been shut down by local officials, allegedly allied with the Ampatuans, which is an “overt act showing they are following some other forces” other than the government.
Insurgent Ampatuans?
Devanadera could not immediately say if the people who have been initially arrested for their possible involvement in the massacre are among those who will be charged with rebellion.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, in the same press conference, said the charges to be filed might vary.
“Depende kung bakit nahuli and ano ang ebidensya (It would depend on why they were arrested and on the evidence),” Remonde said.
Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, confirmed in a separate media briefing in Maguindanao that the ARMM governor and his family are being investigated in connection with the huge arms cache recovered on Thursday night near his residence.
Devanadera said people responsible for the huge arms cache have the capacity to commit “unordinary lawlessness.”
The ARMM governor was arrested after the martial declaration. He has been brought to General Santos City.
His father, Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., has been confined at the Davao Doctors' Hospital in Davao City guarded by a government soldier.
Other Ampatuans arrested
The other Ampatuans arrested were: ARMM Vice-Governor Akmad Ampatuan Sr., Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan, and Cahoner Ampatuan, a Sangguniang Bayan member of Shariff Aguak.
Security forces have also arrested local officials. They were Paisal Sulaik, a Sangguniang Member of Shariff Aguak; Keise Usman, regional secretary of agriculture and of the ARMM; and, Kabuntalan Emblawa, regional environment secretary of the ARMM.
A total of six Ampatuans have been arrested, including another son of the Maguindanao governor, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who has been charged with 25 counts of murder for the massacre.
Ampatuan Jr. is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila.
Devanadera said the DOJ will try to file rebellion and murder charges against the Ampatuans and the other arrested personalities before the 72-hour deadline lapses.
She also assured that President Arroyo will report on the declaration in 48 hours in a joint session of Congress.

PARDON & AMNESTY FOR THE AMPATUANS
andoybarrios,
Then its true, the Arroyo regime is working 24/7 at the expense of taxpayer's monies for their trusted ally Amputahans to qualify for pardon and/or amnesty. This will surely result in bloodbath in MIndanao and patriotic national revolution is inevitable.
This early, the Arroyo is already working for pardon and amnesty. What kind of "bestest sh!t" is the Arroyo regime?
Martial Law
Here's what an expert had to say about the consequences of rebellion case. Father Bernas ay nagturo ng LAW since 1960's and constitutionalist so this guy ay alam ang pinagsasabi niya. Kung may gusto mag-rebutt sa sinabi niya ay welcome para malaman kung may saysay at puwedeng ipasagot kay Fr. Bernas.
'Separate rebellion, murder charges'
Meanwhile, constitutional law expert and Ateneo Law School dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas said that the government has a big job ahead in proving that the murder cases against Ampatuan Jr. are not connected to the alleged rebellion in Maguindanao.
Bernas said that if the Maguindanao massacre cases become connected to the rebellion charges, which was the basis for the declaration of martial law in parts of the province, the murder case will be absorbed by the heavier rebellion case.
If this happens, Bernas said, even if Ampatuan Jr. becomes convicted of murder, since it is already part of a rebellion case, the President can grant him pardon after the final conviction, and he can also be granted amnesty
So, expert ang nagsasalita at may credibility kaya kapani-paniwala di tulad ng puro emosyon lang at hindi i-base sa saligang batas. At ang sinabi niya ay base sa 1987 Constitution hindi 1935.
Witness Security...
Bakit kasi ipinakita ng ABS-CBN camera man ang mukha ng witness. Binaggit pa uli sa balita na dahil nakita raw sa report ng ABS-CBN. Hindi na ba kayo nagiisip na inilalagay nyo sa panganib ang mga buhay nila. Mga ordinaryong mamamayan lang ang mga ito, por Diyos por Santo naman. Pwede bang mag-isip-isip naman ang mga media kung tama ba at hindi makakasama ang kanilang ibinabalita sa kabuuan. Where is the responsible reporting ethics now? Talaga nga naman, nakakahiya!
@ napoleon mcneil....and santy.
napoleon----
Bro, Please huwag kang satsat ng satsat kung wala kang alam sa batas?
To tell you any of the Ampatuan clan member can be charged separately of Murder and Rebellion not complex Rebellion with murder gets? ang hina naman ng utak mo?
Ang bigat sa kasong murder o multiple murder ay bibigat yon depende sa ebedensya na hawak ng batas at bigat at credibilty ng testimonya ng mga witnesses gets? ganun pa man alam natin may technicalities yan pero hindi tayo dapat mag speculate dahil even if ML is proven premature or illegal the murder case is a one way ahead of this ML gets? please we pray that justice will prevail in Gods wisdom and guidance to the Investigating team not to criticise people ahead of us!
To santy!-----Bro, correction lang po ang mga tunay na moslem ay ang mga taong na sa pananampalataya sa relihiyong Islam na sumusunod sa batas ng Diyos o Allah.
kaya ang mga taong nasa Islam ngunit gumagawa ng Krimen ay Hindi po Moslem basi sa kanilang ginawa ganun pa man sila po ay mga pagkakataon pa rin na binibigay ang Diyos para sila maging ganap na Moslem!
Tulad mo kapag tinatanong kita kung ano relihiyon mo madali mo akong masagot maybe ikaw ay isang Christian Roman Catholic, Iglesia ni Kristo o Born Again Christian, sa madaling salita ikaw ay umaangkin na isang Kristiyano pero ang totoo niyan kapag ikaw ay hindi gumagawa sa batas at utos ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ni Kristong Jesus ikaw din ay hindi karapat dapat na tawagin na isang Kristiyano o ikaw ay Hindi ganap na Kristiyano hanggat ikaw ay hindi sumusunod nito:
Ganun pa man lahat tayo kahit gaano tayo ka makasalanan mapa Islam, O Romano Katoliko o Iglesia ni Kristo o kung anong Relihiyon meron tayo tayo pa rin ay tinatawag ng diyos para sa kanya at sa buhay na walang hanggan.
Peace!
To andoybarrios....
Bro, tanong ko lang sayo nakapunta ka na bah ng Mindanao? at huwag mo ipagmalaki sa amin ang pagiging aktibista mo? ang pagiging aktibista ay depende yon kung ano ang inyong ipinaglalaban at ito ba ay may katuturan at realidad? ang sitwasyon ngayon ay iba sa panahon niyo dati? ang mga tao ngayon lalo na yong mga kabataan ay mulat na ang mata at hindi tulad mo tulog o nakapikit sa katotohanan, tandaan mo bro ang katotohanan ay siyang magpapalaya ng tao? to tell you dati ang Martial law covered by 1935 constitution at ang ML ngayon ay malaking pagkakaiba sa dati gets? magbasa ka ulit baka lumang version yang hawak mo? i think na mas matanda ka sa amin at nerespeto kita sa punto na yan pero hindi ko rerespetuhin ang idea mo na bali? Manong andoy the main objectives of ML right there is a swift moved to disarmed all private armies in connection of the massacre and by then, if the weapons is positive of the ballistic test in connection to the crime this can be used to connect the suspects and totally can solved the case even if it is confiscated during ML gets? all of this is beyond probable cause depende kung gaano ka bigat ang ebedensya at gaano ka credible ang testimony ng mga witnesses. sana nman po huwag kayo maging paranoid at hipokrito sa usaping ito at isantabi niyo muna ang galit niyo kay Arroyo?
I dare you now subukan mong pumunta doon particularly in Maguindanao at magdala ka ng libro at isigaw ang batas na sinasabi mo kung may maniniwala ba sa iyo? subukan mong tumira doon under Ampatuan Law tingnan lang natin kung hindi ka iihi sa takot? ang galing niyong magsalita eh wala nman kayong ginawa? At am sure wala kayong magawa kundi ang mag-ingay? alam mo bro lahat naman tayo galit kay Gloria pero sa usaping ito sana nman tigilan niyo yang usaping pang politika? tinatanong niyo ang legalities ng ML dahil takot kayo sa technicalities eh hayaan niyo muna ang mga imbestigador sa kaso at maglahad ng mga ebedensiya bago kayo manghusga: eh kung wala kayong magawa para solusyunan ang Isla ng Mindanao particularly now in Maguindanao eh sana tumahimik nalang kayo? sa mga moslem territory bro doon ay minsan kinalimutan na ng mga ibang tao ang due process, some people were not after of what you said constitution, people right there were challenged on how to survived each day of living sa kahit anong paraan kaya huwag kayong magmalaki na may malasakit kayo sa mga tao doon dahil sa totoo lang Martial Law right there as of now is better than Ampatuan Law? Martial Law right now is totally different before during Marcos Regime and under 1935 Constitution. kaya ung mga kinatatakutan niyo ay possibe din yan mangyari pero dapat niyong tandaan that Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is one way ahead of us and now we need to moved on. Whenever Gloria is proven guilty of her mistakes let the law will prevail and the justice system will work for it? iyong mga sinisigaw niyo laban kay Gloria ay hindi solusyon sa Maguindanao ngayon at lalo na sa Massacre kya kung sa akala niyo magaling kayo punta kayo doon ngayon at subukan niyong manghuli ng private armies at mag imbestiga ng kaso gets?
Relate
I can relate to Martial Law dahil aktibasta ako noong 70's, Estudyante at taga Urban area. Sino pa ba sa atin dito ang buhay na noong ML at alam kung ano ang dulot nito?
Conspiracy, conspiracy, where are thee
Eto, ang sagot ko sa mga kabobohang conspiracy na umiikot sa utak ng mga naive na pinoy.
Conspiracy no. 1: Baka daw hindi mapatawan ng nararapat na murder charge ang mga Ampatuan dahil sa rebelyon.
Sagot: Unang una palang, napatawan na ng 25 murder charges si Andal Amptuan, the main suspect and also those directly involved in the carnage. The rebellion was charged against the REMAINING Ampatuans who are still in power in Maguindanao, who refused to cooperate and were still not in the custody of the military. So imposimble na walang managot sa murder.
Conspiracy no. 2: Baka daw gawin paraan ni Presidente ang Martial Law para ma extend ang kanyang termino.
Sagot: Naku naman! Mag-isip po tayo! Ay BOBO! Nakakinis sa kabobohan. Naka dalawang people's power na tayo. Alam na ng lahat na kayang-kaya nating mga Pinoy na paalisin ang sino mang diktador sa susunod sa yapak ni Marcos mas mabilis pa sa speed of light. Walang politiko, kahit si GMA man yan, ang magkakalakas ng loob na gumawa nito dahil ito ay siguradong political suicide.
In conclusion, walang katutuhanan ang mga conspiracy na yan. 100% akong sigurado, itaga ninyo sa bato. Chismis lang yan pare ko. The Martial law was imposed to stop the rebellion, to hasten the charges against the Amptuans, and to ensure public safety in Maguindanao. Wala na tayong dapat isipin pa. Ang magagawa natin ngayon ay siguraduhing ginagamit sa maayos na paraan ang Martial law bago tayo mag husga.
To you ravzniya
I am not biased on my post. I am christian however I don't even go to church religiously. I just wanna comment on this statement:
THERE IS NO RELIGION IN THIS WORLD THAT TEACHES VIOLENCE
You might somehow correct but how will you explain terrorrism and turmoil in the world being caused by Moslems. Who caused Rizal Bombing, 9/11 attack, several bombings in southern Philippines and different part of the world? Is not it those people who have long and thick beard that almost covers their entire face? They are called Moslems. Is that the way your religion brought you up?
OFW mabuhay, mga pinoy sa atin complain lang alam
mabuhay mga OFW!
etong mga pilipino sa pinas ay puro complain lang alam, magtrabaho kayo mga tamad at walang disiplina
maglaba kayo, mag bote, mag pancit-mami hindi yung puro karaoke nagbubulabog sa mga nag aaral na estudyante may exam pa sila bukas noh, at ihi-lang kayo ng ihi sa pader-walang modo, at drive ng drive walang lisensya--mga pasaway kayo sa lipunan.
ikaw binabasa mo to tanungin mo sa sarili mo ikaw ba ay nakatulong sa bayan hindi kaba umihi sa pader ha aber?
mabuhay mga OFW mga hero tayo
MULTIPLE MURDER NOT REBELLION
The case of rebellion against the Ampatuans will be dismissed due to technicality, as there was no evidence that such rebellion exist. It's only the Government that concocted the idea that rebellion is in the offing. Remember the case filed during Pres. Cory's time against Sen. Enrile wherein the court says that there is no such thing as complex rebellion with murder and it cannot be seen in any book of law of the land. More or less eh makakawala lang ang mga ampatuan sa mga kaso nila pag rebellion ang naifile at di multiple murder.
Sad to say, nakagawa lang ng diversion ang gobyerno at mababalewala lang din ang indignation na pinakita ng pilipino at ng buong mundo. May the soul of those who were murdered haunt those who are guilty.