Maguindanao is now under the state of Martial Law.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation 1959 Friday night.
The President also suspended the writ of habeas corpus as contained in the proclamation.
The AFP received intelligence reports that several groups armed with sophisticated foreign-made weapons are positioning themselves in Maguindanao and are ready to retaliate once the government effect the arrest on Ampatuan clan members.
The Ampatuans, a powerful clan in the province, have been linked directly or indirectly to the killings and the crackdown on members of the family began with the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., two days after what has been considered as the worst election-related violence in the country last Nov. 23.
The martial law proclamation was primarily to account for the suspects in the gruesome murder and to address threats from armed supporters of the Ampatuan political clan.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assured the people of Maguindanao they have nothing to fear about the enforcement of martial law in the province under Proclamation No. 1959, unless they are involved in the November 23 massacre of 57 civilians, including dozens of mediamen.
