SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao, Philippines—(UPDATE) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), brother of the prime suspect in the Maguindanao massacre that killed at least 57 people, is meeting with at least 20 town mayors of Maguindanao.

The meeting comes after the administration party Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats kicked him and his relatives out of the party over the slaughter of civilians last Monday.

The mayors arrived at the regional governor's mansion here Sunday (not Saturday) morning to show their support after Zaldy's brother, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was charged with multiple murder for the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre of political rivals and journalists.

Some 3,000 people also gathered outside the governor's residence to show their support for the powerful Ampatuan family.

The ARMM governor, whose brother Andal Ampatuan Jr. is being detained at the National Bureau of Investigation for the carnage, is expected to hold a news conference after the meeting.