Due process take it or leave it
ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan asked the Supreme Court to TRO the state of emergency over Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotobato City; and the authority given to DILG head Ronaldo Puno to administer ARMM and to suspend officials suspected of involvement in the Ampatuan Massacre.
Zaldy’s reasons?
1. “The power to discipline erring officials or employees lies with the regional government. Thus, to mete the penalty of suspension and replacement upon those who are merely suspected, and not to mention, not proven to have complicity in the Maguindanao massacre is to unforgivably and despotically contravene the provision.”
The power to suspend Andal Jr. lies with Zaldy and to take that power away from him is unforgiveable and despotic.
2. “If petitioners are not allowed to perform their tasks freely, or if they are replaced on the lame excuse that they are suspected to be complicit in the Maguindanao massacre, serious damage and prejudice will be caused to them as they would be totally deprived of their opportunity to render service and to fulfill their duties only upon conjectures.”
If Zaldy and company are not given a wide berth, or if they are replaced because they are principal suspects in the Ampatuan Massacre then it will do serious damage and prejudice to their ability to do what they are good at doing.
3.“Let it not also be forgotten that this take-over could be a tool for political expediency to stifle free elections, to favor administration-backed candidates, and to emasculate any opposition.”
This take-over will stifle the ability of the Ampatuans to freely elect themselves.
LATE BREAKING NEWS The military unearthed an arms cache beside an Ampatuan mansion. A witness said the arms were buried two days after the massacre.
Expect the Ampatuans to protest the desecration of the sacred burial grounds of their weapons.