Philippines imposes martial law in massacre province

The military chief in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao took over as local governor after martial law was imposed on Saturday, following the country's worst election-related crime last month. Police took five members of the Ampatuan political clan, including the patriarch who is a close ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and other officials for questioning on the massacre of 57 people, more than half of whom were journalists. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters the government suspended civil rights in the province, for the first time in nearly three decades, after receiving reports armed groups loyal to local mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr were massing in the area to launch a rebellion against his arrest last week. Ampatuan Jr. is the main suspect in the killings on November23 when members of a rival political clan were attacked while they were on their way to file the candidacy of one of their leaders for elections next year. Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the eastern Mindanao command who took over as Maguindanao governor, said there was no need to impose curfew in the province.He said the imposition of martial law would allow security forces to conduct arrests and searches without warrants after local judges refused to issue such orders.