GMA ends martial law
but crackdown still on

Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Victor Ibrado, yesterday said that while Martial Law was lifted Saturday, military troops will remain in Maguindanao to ensure peace and order in the province.

Ibrado had earlier recommended the lifting of Martial Law, claiming they had already almost achieved their purpose, citing the arrest and filing of charges against members of the influential Ampatuan clan linked to the massacre of 57 persons, including 31 journalists, and the recovery of more than a thousand high-powered firearms and close to a million ammunition.

The AFP currently has an estimated 4,000 troops deployed in Maguindanao.

The Ombudsman's recent dismissal of a criminal complaint filed against Pepito Malapitan came too late since the former Barangay Captain of Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City , passed away on Nov. 25.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has approved the dismissal of the criminal complaint for malversation of public funds filed by Alijis Barangay Captain Deogracias de la Vega against Malapitan, former Alijis Barangay Treasurer Ma. Cecilia Conta and Rene Ordonez, owner of Ordonez Traders, for lack of probable cause.

The case involved the issuance and encashment of a barangay check for P43,632 payable to the supplier, which was not authorized by the Sangguniang Barangay, for the proposed improvement of the drainage canal in Alijis.

Another rebel returnee suspected to be a military informant was shot to death by New People's Army rebels in Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Saturday, Army local spokesman 1Lt. Joselito Dalidad said.

Dalida, 61 st Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, said Marciano “ Boy” Saranillo, alias Boy Kulas, was gunned down in front of his sari-sari store, six days after Jimmy Responte, also a rebel returnee, was also shot dead in Brgy. Masaling of the same town.

Saranillo, 50, who surrendered to the military several years ago and reunited with his family, sustained two gunshot wounds in the head, and another one in the chest, and died on the spot. He was shot by three suspected NPA assassins.