DISARM MILITIA, REPLACE PNP PERSONNEL, ROXAS ASKS GMA
SAVAGERY DEMANDS SWIFT, FIRM ACTION AND JUSTICE

Sen. Mar Roxas today urged President Arroyo to order the disarming of all members of militia groups and the replacement of all police personnel in Maguindanao to immediately put a stop to the violence there following the massacre of almost 40 followers and members of the media by armed men identified with the ruling Ampatuan clan.

"The abduction and massacre of at least 22 civilians in Maguindanao last November 24 has been described across the nation--and even in the international stage--as one of the most harrowing, senseless, and inhuman acts in our recent history," he said.

"Such savagery offends and disgusts me as Filipino citizen, and as a human being," he added, stressing government should "bring its perpetrators to justice" to "avoid further blood-letting in the province" and "create a more lasting solution to the ethno-cultural and political strife in the region."

Aside from the police revamp and the disarming of members of the Civilian Volunteers' Organization, a group under the control and supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Roxas said Malacañang should also create an impartial investigative team to investigate the incident.

The team, he proposed, should include elements from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, the Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Justice.

He added government should order the immediate arrest of all identified suspects and their transfer to the Manila City Jail to ensure their continued detention.

Likewise, he said the Commission on Elections office in Sharrif Aguak, Maguindanao should be transferred to the capitol building in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat province to prevent a repeat of the massacre. "It is my belief that such a tragedy should be the cause of national outrage and that this outrage should result in swift, responsible action from government. I pray that we are united in this belief," Roxas said.