Maguindanao under martial LAwFilipino army soldiers during a flag ceremony inside the Magunidanao provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao province , southern Philippines on 07 December 2009 during its first day of work after Martial was implemented . The government defended the imposition of Martial Law in Maguindanao after clashes erupted between security forces and armed militia allegedly linked to the Ampatuan family accused of killing 57 people two weeks ago . President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on 05 December , imposed martial law in Maguindanao after heavily armed groups were monitored to have " established positions to resist government troops " investigating the massacre . EPA / DENNIS M . SABANGAN < 뉴스 의 새 시대 , 연합뉴스 Live > < 연합뉴스 폰 > < 포토 매거진 >< 저작권자 ( c ) 연합뉴스 . 무단 전재 - 재배 포금 지 . >