The Philippine Online Chronicles

Conflict continues to hound Maguindanao as growing incidents of lootings and raids by unidentified groups of armed men force police to call for a 12-hour curfew. 24-hour patrols are already being implemented in the province, which is still under a state of emergency following the elections-related slaughter of 57 people back in November 23.

"We have a proposal to Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto to impose a curfew," said acting provincial police director Superintendent Alex Lineses. The proposed curfew would be from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am.

"We are open [to the imposition of curfew] for as long as that is within the law and within the powers of the Department of the Interior and Local Government," said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde in response.

"The reimposition of martial law is not within the radar screen of the government as of the moment. We are not considering that for now," he added.

Looting and arson

Lineses mentioned that several “isolated” cases of looting included the entry into a Commission on Elections office in Maguindanao by unknown people and the theft of a rice cooker, water dispenser, several plates and curtains from the provincial office.

He also reported raids on villages in the province by an as yet unidentified group. The most recent of these was the torching of several houses in the town of Datu Hofer Ampatuan, which forced residents to transfer to evacuation areas in other towns. Earlier, the same group raided Sitio Motod in Barangay Limpongo and a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

“We are still conducting our investigation. It could be from the group of Ampatuans’ militiamen who are trying to harass the residents to create a chaotic scenario,” he said.

Another theory from a provincial official is that the raiders are “former owners of lands that former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. either grabbed or bought from them at very low price, procured under duress.”

Still others say that they are relatives of MILF rebels killed in clashes against the Ampatuans’ private army.

“Their activities are quite strange,” said military spokesman Colonel Jonathan Ponce. “They are not doing anything to provoke the police or the military. They are instead attacking communities where there are followers and relatives of the Ampatuans.”

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