COTABATO CITY, Philippines--The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is asking the Philippine government not to punish the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a result of the massacre that left 57 people dead in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Khaled Musa, deputy chair of the MILF committee on information, said Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno was definitely not the right person to handle the job of restoring normalcy in the troubled province.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given Puno “blanket authority” to restore normalcy in Maguindanao and the ARMM.

Puno was earlier given supervisory control over the ARMM in the wake of the massacre of at least 57 people, mostly women and journalists, on November 23.

In its website, the MILF information official described Puno as a man “who can be vindictive at the spur of the moment and definitely, he is not the right man to handle this very delicate and volatile situation.”

Musa has unsolicited advice to the President: “It could be much better if the President herself directly handles the matter.”

Arroyo empowered Puno to suspend and name civilian and police officials in the region and he can relieve or suspend any official and appoint replacements to ensure the continued operation of the regional government.

Musa said Puno was given full powers and supervision of the ARMM, which simply meant he was free to carry out his own recommendations.

Musa, however, did not clearly say or outline what Puno had done in Muslim Mindanao in the past that his appointment was being opposed by the MILF except that he “can be vindictive.” Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao