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MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday they have recommended to the justice department the filing of rebellion charges against 24 people 3 days after the declaration martial law and the suspension of the privilege of habeas corpus in parts of Maguindanao province.

Those recommended to be charged for rebellion were key members of the powerful Ampatuan clan including its patriarch former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, acting Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Islam Ampatuan, Maguindanao Vice Gov. Al Hadji Akmad Ampatuan, and Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan.

Andal Sr. was taken to full military custody Sunday evening and was transferred to Camp Panacan in Davao City. ARMM Gov. Ampatuan, meanwhile, was detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 12 headquarters in General Santos City. The other key members of the Ampatuan clan were detained at the Army's 6th Infantry Division camp in Cotabato province.

The justice department will be evaluating the complaint filed by the police and would be conducting inquest proceedings before deciding on who would be formally charged in court.

Authorities have until Tuesday to "judicially charge" the detained members of the Amaptuan clan as required by the Constitution on arrests made during martial law.

Others charged by police were:

• Kusain Akmad Sakilan
• Jovel Vista Lopez
• Romy Gimba Mamay
• Sammy Duyo Villanueva
• Ibrahim Abdulkadir
• Samil Mindo
• Goldo Ampatuan
• Amaikugao Dalgan
• Billy Gabriel Jr.
• Abdullah Ampatuan
• Morieb Ibrahim
• Umpa Yarya
• Manding Abdulkadir
• Dekay Ulama
• Kapid Cabaya
• Koka Managilid
• Sammy Macabuat
• Duca Amban
• Akmad Ulilisen.

Another Ampatuan, Datu Unday Mayor Andal Jr. was earlier arrested and detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) jail in Manila. He has been tagged as a principal suspect in the gruesome election-related massacre in Ampatuan town which claimed the lives of at least 57 people.

Aside from the 24, PNP Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano said 15 more persons were arrested Monday aside from the 67 people arrested over the weekend.

From allies to rebels

In her written report on Proclamation No. 1959 to Congress on Sunday, President Arroyo cited several grounds for the declaration of martial law including the presence of heavily armed groups that "have established positions to resist government troops" and the deterioration of peace and order in Maguindanao, which left the local judicial system and other government systems unable to function.

In the report, the Ampatuans were described to have "consolidated a group of rebels consisting of 2,413 heavily armed men, with 1,160 of then having been strategically deployed in Mindanao."

The "rebels" are reportedly concentrated in 16 towns of Maguindanao, which are allegedly the political strongholds of the Ampatuans who have been staunch allies of the Arroyo administration.

The report said that the Ampatuans were "behind the closing down of government offices, the refusal of local officials to discharge their functions and the simultaneous absence or non-appearance of judges in local courts."

Andal Sr. gets subpoena

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents, meanwhile, served on Monday a subpoena to Andal Sr. in connection with the gruesome massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province.

The subpoena was served to Andal Sr. while in military custody at Camp Panacan in Davao City. The military camp is the headquarters of Armed Forces' Eastern Mindanao Command whose commanding general is also the administrator of martial law in Maguindanao.

Agent Arcelito Albao and Senior Inspector Wilfredo Castillo from NBI Region 11 served the subpoena to the former Maguindanao governor.

The patriarch of the powerful Maguindanao clan was ordered to appear before the justice department in Manila on December 18 at 2 p.m. with his counter-affidavit to the allegations on his involvement in the gruesome killings.

Attached to the subpoena were documents and affidavits.

Lawyers of Andal Sr. said they will study the documents provided.

They also said that inquest proceedings against the former Maguindanao governor will be held Tuesday at 7 a.m.

"Illegal"

Andal Sr. was taken into military custody Sunday evening after he was forcibly transferred to the military camp from Davao Doctors' Hospital, where he was confined since Saturday.

Lawyer Alexis Lumbatan, counsel of Andal Sr., had earlier protested as illegal the forcible transfer of the Ampatuan clan patriarch. He said Andal Sr. was never arrested, either in Maguindanao nor in Davao City.

The military, however, said that Andal Sr. was already taken into military custody when he was brought to Davao City Saturday from Maguindanao upon the declaration of martial law in the province.

The military said Andal Sr. had requested to be rushed to a hospital and was allowed to recuperate while under investigation.

They said that the custodial officer on Sunday evening negotiated with the group of Andal Sr., who wanted to extend his stay in the hospital. Instead of cooperating, the military said that the camp of the former governor allegedly locked the door to prevent military from taking Andal Sr.. Hence, they said they had to break open the door of the former Maguinanao governor's room in the hospital.

The military, however, denied that tear gas was used in the operation as the Ampatuans claim.

Members of media were not allowed to cover the transfer of Andal Sr., and the military admitted to having used decoys to ensure public and media safety, they said.

Members of the family of Andal Sr., meanwhile, said they plan to seek assistance from the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged improper handling of the military in transferring their patriarch. They said that during the commotion at the hospital, a member of the clan was also hurt.

"No appetite problem"

The military also said that the former Maguindanao governor is now better protected inside the military camp. Ampatuan is reportedly staying in an area in the Camp Panacan Station Hospital which reportedly has air conditioning, 2 beds and 1 bathroom.

Meanwhile, a medical bulletin from Dr. Rhoda Franco, station hospital medical officer, said that Andal Sr.'s health situation is stable and was managing a high blood pressure and diabetes, The bulletin said Andal Sr. was not in any respiratory distress but was having tension headaches and also gastritis from stress. He reportedly has no problem with his appetite.

Reports said Andal Sr. was also with his family doctor inside the military hospital room.