MANILA, Philippines -- ``So what do you want her to do???

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo posed this question to critics of President Arroyo who has been initially chastised for not acting tough on the Ampatuans -- who were tagged in the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre -- and then lambasted for declaring martial law in the province to dismantle the Ampatuans? private army.

?Before President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1959, some sectors were saying the administration is treating the issue of Maguindanao with kid gloves. Now that she has placed Maguindanao under martial law to effect warrantless arrests, search and seizures aimed at dismantling private armies and confiscating loose firearms in that particular area with the primary objective of restoring law and order in the province, they are again crying hell,?? said Arroyo in a text message to reporters.

?It?s a case of damn if you do, damn if you don?t.?

Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzalez Jr., the House assistant majority leader, said the President was justified in declaring martial law because of the real threat of an armed conflict between Ampatuan?s private army and the men of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu whose wife, two sisters and supporters were killed, along with 30 journalists in what is now called the Maguindanao massacre.

The 57 people killed in the atrocity were on their way to Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, to file Mangudadatu?s certificate of candidacy for governor, challenging Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the son of the incumbent governor Andal Sr.

Initially, Gonzalez said the authorities thought that only Andal Jr. would bear the brunt of the blame for the Maguindanao massacre until new testimony emerged on the complicity of other Ampatuan officials.

He said the Ampatuans had civilian volunteer officers who were well-armed and spread over the province. They remain loyal to the Ampatuans and would defend them to the death, Gonzalez believes. ``There is real danger on the ground and a possibility that this thing could escalate into a civil strife,?? said Gonzalez.

Mikey said the criticisms that came Ms Arroyo?s way after declaring martial law in Maguindanao were typical of her opponents? obsession to dwell on the negative aspect of every issue facing the administration.

He cited the case of the recent Pulse Asia survey, which claimed that eight out of 10 Filipinos would not vote for the administration-backed candidate.

``Why did they not present it as 20 percent of the Filipinos are still willing to vote for the administration-backed candidate? Apparently, they don?t want to present it that way because it would show that the administration-backed candidate is only two percent shy of Noynoy Aquino?s rating of 22 percent as per Ibon survey results,?? said Arroyo. `` These people just want to vilify this administration in the furtherance of their political ambition.??