MANILA, Philippines—Senator Panfilo Lacson dared President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday to go after “and shoot to immobilize” her political allies, the Ampatuans, who had been linked to the gruesome massacre of their political enemies in Maguindanao.

“This is one test that I insist the Arroyo administration must pass for a change,” Lacson said in a statement.

“The entire Filipino nation must act as one in challenging Ms Arroyo and all our law enforcement agencies to lose no time in arresting the perpetrators of this abominable act and if necessary shoot to immobilize them.”

“Such senseless killings and violence must be dealt with firmly just to show the rule of law still prevails in a part of the country where the Ampatuans act like `gods,'” he also said.

In his statement, Lacson said the Ampatuans were credited for the poll victory of Arroyo’s senatorial slate in Maguindanao in 2007.

Lacson was among the senatorial candidates in 2007 who got no vote in the province.

He cautioned the government that a “political solution of any form is not acceptable as it is unconscionable.”