Networkers have been contacting Philippines authorities in relation to the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, Mindanao in the Philippines, including Concepcion ‘Connie’ Brizuela of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and a human rights lawyer. Part of this action was to call for repeal of the Philippines law that allows for the formation of private armies, as one such army was involved in the massacre.

The Philippines Government has established a Commission to Dismantle Private Armies, headed by retired Justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa. Other members of the Commission include Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos, representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Mahmod Mala L. Adiloa, representing the Ulama Conference, a representative of the media, a representative of the retired military and a retired police deputy director.

The Commission will submit policy and action recommendations to the President, including appropriate prosecution and legislative proposals aimed at eliminating the existence of private armies prior to the May elections.

The Commission has the power to summon witnesses, tale testimony or evidence relevant to the investigation and to issue compulsory processes to produce documents, books, records and other pertinent matters related to its function. It has the power to tap the phones of police and the military.

On 24 March the head of the Commission requested that  the body be made permanent. The Commission stated that 24 of the 112 private armed groups they were targeting have already been dismantled by the police and military. So far 67 people have been arrested and 80 weapons confiscated.

On 17 April murder charges against Zaldy Ampatuan, Regional Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Akmad Ampatuan, acting Vice Governor of Maguindanao province, for alleged involvement in the November massacre were dropped by the Philippines Department of Justice. The charges were dropped largely on the basis of their alibis that they were not in Maguindanao at the time of the massacre. However, Amnesty International has argued that they were not physically present during the massacre is immaterial, as the two men were charged with conspiracy rather than direct participation. Amnesty International has raised the concern that the timing of being close to Philippines elections and the manner in which the executive decision was made raises questions as to why the Secretary of Justice , a political appointee, intervened.