MARTIAL law will be lifted in Maguindanao at 9 p.m. Saturday, eight days after it was imposed by President Gloria Arroyo.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Arroyo lifted Proclamation No. 1959 on the recommendation of the Cabinet which concluded that the government has met its main objectives in placing Maguindanao under martial rule and suspending the writ of habeas corpus following the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead.
Ermita said, however, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City will remain under a state of emergency.
The executive secretary said Malacanang will be transmitting to Congress soon the proclamation lifting martial law.
Congress has convened a joint session on Proclamation 1959 and was scheduled to vote for or against the declaration of martial law on Tuesday.
Ermita said the decision to lift martial law was based chiefly on a joint report of the Armed Forces and Philippines National Police that the five objectives in declaring martial law had been met.
He said rebellion and multiple murder charges have been filed against the suspects of the massacre before the courts.
The police and military have cleared “rebel positions” in several towns in Maguindanao and the criminal justice system was “in place and working,” he added.
The executive secretary also said normalcy has been restored to the local government units. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Vice Gov. Ansarrudin Adiong has been appointed acting governor of the region.