MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is maintaining her ties with the powerful Ampatuans despite their expulsion from the ruling party and the filing of multiple murder charges against one of them in connection with the Nov. 23 massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province.

“I don’t think the President’s friendship with the Ampatuans will be severed,” Lorelei Fajardo, her deputy spokesperson, told reporters Thursday in Filipino. “Just because they’re in this situation doesn’t mean we will turn our backs on them.”

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., a son and namesake of the governor of Maguindanao, is the prime suspect in what has been described as the worst election-related violence in the Philippines.

But Director Andres Caro of the Philippine National Police said authorities were not discounting the possible participation of other members of the Ampatuan clan in the mass murder.

Still, Fajardo told reporters at a press briefing in Malacañang, “it doesn’t mean that they are no longer our friends, if ever they indeed committed the crime.”

The Palace’s position contradicts that of administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro, who, in his capacity as chair of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, initiated the expulsion of Ampatuan Jr. Also expelled were Ampatuan Sr. and his elder son, Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The Ampatuans were stripped of party membership for their failure to uphold party ideals and principles in their area of jurisdiction, specifically relating to the peaceful, legal and democratic pursuit and exercise of political power,” Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez, the party president, said on Wednesday night.

Separate roles

Reminded by reporters of how the Ampatuans helped ensure Ms Arroyo’s disputed victory over opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004, and how they delivered an astonishing 12-0 sweep in Maguindanao for the administration’s senatorial ticket in 2007, Fajardo said Ms Arroyo’s role as President should be viewed as “separate” from her function as a political ally of the clan.

“Even if they have a relationship as friends or political allies, that should not hinder [her] from being the President who would make sure that the law should apply to everyone,” Fajardo said.

She skirted a reporter’s question on the importance of the clan as Ms Arroyo’s ally and the reported initial difficulty of authorities even in inviting Ampatuan Jr. for questioning.

“If you’re asking how important [the Ampatuans are] politically, let us separate the issue for now because the President is no longer seeking reelection,” Fajardo said.

Prayers for the dead

With expressions of shock and outrage still streaming in from persons and institutions both here and abroad, Ms Arroyo began her day by offering prayers for the victims of the mass murder and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

She exhorted Filipinos to pray not only for peace in Mindanao but also for an end to the political violence that had been plaguing the country for years.

“We gather here today in the shadow of the tragedy that has recently been visited upon so many of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” the President said at the 34th National Prayer Breakfast held at Malacañang Park.

“It was a blight on our nation—men and women, young and old, political battlers and journalists—all are victims of a shameful crime that has no place in civilized society,” she said.

The crime “cries for the fullest measure of retribution from our institutions of justice,” she added.

The breakfast meeting, organized by the Philippine National Prayer Breakfast Foundation Inc., coincided with the national day of prayer and mourning Ms Arroyo had declared.

Nothing specific

Ms Arroyo promised that those responsible for the crime would be brought to justice, but said nothing about how the government would deal with the family that had been implicated.

“Yes, there is no condemnation in the Lord, but on the other hand, on earth, there is a system of justice and the perpetrators will not find a way to escape justice,” she said.

The President also spoke out against and called for an end to political violence, calling it “a sad legacy of our nation.”

“We had made considerable progress in protecting our people from such violence in the last two years. Now, let us pray today that the events of this week will not deter this nation from breaking the bonds of violence that plague our political system,” she said, adding:

“The question is not who is going to win. It should be: Why do Filipinos fight over issues that can’t be resolved by violence but by a democratic process?

“Let us pray for the grace to improve the security of those parts of the country that have known much violence, so that as we move quickly, we’re able to develop the economy in those areas where there is peace.”

Peace in Mindanao

Ms Arroyo called on Filipinos to pray for peace in the country, specifically in Mindanao, and the affirmation of the people’s commitment to human rights and human dignity.

“The crime is too outrageous not to prick the conscience of the nation. So on this day, let us pray that the grieving relatives and friends of the victims be granted the solace of faith and peace of mind,” she said.

“Let us pray that the burden of anger and revenge be lifted from their hearts so that they may become instruments of a return to peace rather than the continuation of violence.”

The President also sought prayers for peace to reign among Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

“It will show other multifaith communities that there can be ground on which to live together in peace, harmony and cooperation that respects each other’s religious and even political beliefs,” she said.

The religion of Muslim Filipinos “is offended no less than others by criminal actions and the suffering of families victimized,” she added.