MANILA – Preventive suspension orders against Ampatuans currently holding public office are set to be filed soon, according to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the principal suspect of the Maguindanao massacre. His father is Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and his brother is Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan.

“Wala pa, wala pa naman. Pero malapit na siguro kaya inaabangan na ‘yan. Sa tingin ko pag lumabas na kung anuman ang mga aksiyon namin makikita ng lahat yung base nito lahat,” Puno said in a radio dzMM interview.

The 3 Ampatuans were expelled from the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party last week.

“Hindi lamang sa criminal law dahil hindi lamang sa pagsangkot sa kanila sa krimen ng pagpatay kundi sa pagpapabaya na rin nila blang mga tagapaglingkod sa ating mga kababayan natin as public officials,” he said of the officials who will receive preventive suspension orders.

According to Puno, the DILG is making sure that innocent people will not get dragged into the scandal.

“Bagamat makikita natin sa mga kasong i-fa-file sa darating na araw, bukas, makalawa, hindi naman siguro lahat halimbawa sa angkan ng Ampatuan ay kasama dito,” he noted.

“Pero yung mga personalidad kung saan may ebidensiya talaga na talagang may kinalaman sila dito ay hindi naman hindi puwede natin silang patawan ng nararapat na aksiyon.”

Criminal cases

Puno stated that the general basis of the preventive suspension orders is the filing of criminal cases against any of the Ampatuans.

“Kung may fi-nile na criminal case na kasangkot sila dito sa massacre na ito, madali nang maghanap ng adminsitrative basis for suspesnsion diyan at alam ng lahat ng abogado ‘yan,” he said.
 
He also mentioned another basis: “Yung isang public official na pananagutan niya ang peace and order sa kaniyang lugar, pagkatapos yun ay nawala dahil sa paulit-ulit at mukhang direkto ang pagkukulang niya.”
 
He added the length of suspension depends on who issues the suspension order.

“Depende rin sa kanilang posisyon kasi iba-iba yung procedure sa pagsuspinde sa mga opisyal.”
 
No ARMM takeover

The DILG chief then gave a tip to the laywers of the Ampatuans: “Pag-aralan niyong mabuti ang batas. Siguraduhin namin na wala kaming gagawin dito na lihis sa batas natin ngayon.”

Walang martial law, walang mga emergency powers na pinangangambahan natin. A state of emergency like this one only requires us to put in additional resources, allows us to put in additional measures pero not a change in the legal situation.”

Puno stressed that the so-called DILG supervision over the ARMM is not a takeover. According to President Arroyo’s administrative order, the supervision over ARMM was transferred from the Office of the President to the DILG.

“The Organic law is still in place, [the] local government code is still in place,” he assured. “Susundin at rerespetuhin lahat ng mga batas na ‘yan.”

Audit

Puno also confirmed that the DILG will ask the Commission on Audit (COA) to audit not just the ARMM, but the whole province of Maguindanao and all its towns.
 
“Yung IRA nila doon pagdating sa munisipyo, diretso sa bulsa,” said Puno of talks that it is difficult to audit government funds in Maguindanao.

The audit is in accordance with DILG’s supervision over ARMM.

Puno said that according to the Organic Law, the President will monitor the usage of money in ARMM, watch over the enactment of human rights, and ensure abidance to the law.

Firearms

Puno then gave an update on the investigations being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He said that the AFP and PNP have been conducting raids to track down the firearms used by the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre.

According to him, probes are ongoing as many people are said to be involved in the massacre.

“May mga pulis na nandoon sa checkpoint. Lahat sila nandito sa custody ng investigators at kinukuha testimonya nila,” noted Puno.

He even asked those who have any information on the massacre to help his team with the investigation. “Kung ‘di sa amin agad, kahit sa media muna,” he appealed to the public.

Puno also mentioned the possible sources of firearms used by the massacre suspects.

The high-powered firearms could have been acquired through some units of the police or army or they were smuggled into the country.