MANILA, Philippines?Malacañang shrugged off on Wednesday the Ampatuans' denial of charges linking them to the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 persons in Maguindanao, saying the case will be decided on the basis of the evidence.

"These are matters subject to rules of evidence and testimony. So it's difficult for us to comment. It's up the court to determine the truthfulness of the claims of the Ampatuans,'' presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said by phone.

Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and his brothers, Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan, said in their affidavits that they were somewhere else when the attack on their rival's convoy was allegedly being planned at their father's house on Nov. 22.

Members of the Ampatuan clan have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the massacre of relatives of a rival politician, lawyers and journalists in the town of Ampatuan.

Olivar also said the courts should not be distracted by Zaldy Ampatuan's claim that he was attending a Lakas Kampi CMD meeting in Malacañang when the massacre took place on Nov. 23.

"Let's not allow political overtones to arise from this whole inquiry. Let's focus on the important thing: justice for the victims and punishment for the criminals,'' he said.

The governor claimed he and congressmen Yusop Jikiri and Munir Abison, and other political leaders of the Sulu province were in Malacañang that day to discuss with Ms Arroyo how to resolve local electoral conflicts in Sulu.

In a radio interview, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde confirmed this, but said Ms Arroyo attended the meeting briefly. He said she has since severed her ties with the Ampatuans.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, also a member of the ruling party, said he believed the governor was laying the ground for his defense by claiming he was in Malacañang when the massacre took place.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't there in the meeting. There was no way of validating the claim of Ampatuan. My assumption is he's laying the ground for his defense. That's part of his defense, which is alibi,'' he said by phone. "If it's true, he has the right to say it. If it's not true, that will later be established.''

As to the governor's claim that Ms Arroyo could attest to his innocence, the former justice secretary said: "That's his claim. It's up to the President to affirm or validate it, contradict or repudiate it.''

Bello also said it was up to the courts whether to summon Ms Arroyo later on to determine the veracity of the governor's claim.

"Whether you're an ally or not, it has no significance to the case. If you're found guilty, you should suffer the consequences of your misbehavior,'' he said in reaction to observations that the governor's claim has revived reports of the Ampatuans' close ties to Ms Arroyo.