MANILA, Philippines?Two senators on Sunday questioned Malacañang?s designation of Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer as the martial law administrator in Maguindanao, saying that the succession rule in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) should have been followed.

Both Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Senator Rodolfo Biazon pointed out that the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao, which belongs to the ARMM, did not abolish the legislative assemblies in the region.

They said that elected ARMM officials should be the ones taking charge after many members of the Ampatuan clan were detained and charged with involvement in the November 23 Maguindanao massacre.

Biazon said that under the Constitution, the imposition of martial law does not dissolve legislative assemblies, including Congress.

He said ARMM officials should be given the responsibility for martial law and not Ferrer.

In addition, Biazon said Ferrer was still in the active service and ?occupying the command position in the area.?

?Is he going to perform or exercise executive action at the same time?? he asked.

For his part, Pimentel said Ferrer ?should uphold the regional legislative assembly to the ARMM chair and local government, except involving the Ampatuan kin.?

?Martial law doesn?t dismantle the ARMM and local government units,? Pimentel said in a text message.

In a phone interview, Pimentel said he made the statement because Ferrer had issued statements that ?gave the impression that even the operations of local government units will be under his control.?

Pimentel said he heard reports that many officials were applying to replace the Ampatuans in their positions.