MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has authorized Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to carry out the suspension of all officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) following Monday’s mass murder of at least 57 people in Maguindanao.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President gave the orders in a meeting Friday morning that was also attended by Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera.

The President has given Puno “full powers of supervision” to carry out his own recommendation to suspend all government, military and police officials in the ARMM, Remonde told reporters at the weekly Palace briefing aired live over government station Radyo ng Bayan.

Puno is also authorized to appoint their temporary replacement, Remonde added.

Remonde said the temporary suspension of the local officials would “help restore normalcy and peace and order and to provide an atmosphere conducive for efficient investigation” into the gruesome murders.

On Thursday, Puno recommended the temporary suspension of all local officials in Maguindanao to allow an impartial investigation of the massacre, believed to be linked to a rivalry between two influential political clans in the province.

Remonde said the suspension of officials could be carried out on the basis of a state of emergency declared in the provinces of Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat.