Philippine gov't orders governor to reply complaint against him in connection with massacre

MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno ordered Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to reply within five days the complaint filed against him by Buluan town vice mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu in connection with the massacre of 57 civilians in Maguindanao.

In a directive issued Wednesday, Puno said he found sufficient cause to investigate Ampatuan's "alleged failure to protect the civil, human and political rights of the persons who were killed."

He noted that if Ampatuan failed to submit his reply within five days then this amounts to a waiver of his right to respond to the complaint.

In his sworn letter-complaint dated Dec. 1, Mangudadatu noted that the "gruesome murders of more than fifty persons, including at least seventeen members of the media, eight civilians and two lawyers, in Maguindanao have resulted in numerous complaints and protests from civic, religious and political groups and non-governmental organizations against the ARMM leadership for the evident failure to protect the civil, human and political rights of the victims."

Mangudadatu said that under the law, the Philippine President can suspend or remove the ARMM regional governor "for willful violation of the Constitution."

Mangudadatu has assured Puno that "other evidence in support of his letter-complaint will be submitted as they become available."