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NEW YORK – A Maryland groom has created an viral story storm after he interrupted his wedding last month to update his Facebook and Twitter accounts from the altar.

Dana Hanna, who works for a pet website, also posted a short video of the ceremony on the Internet. It showed him reaching into his pocket for his phone as the minister was about to pronounce the couple husband and wife.

The video has had more than 350,000 views.

"Oh, Dana is updating his relationship status on Facebook," the minister said as the audience at the wedding laughed.

After Hanna finished twittering he continued the ceremony.

"As I was saying, I now pronounce you husband and wife. It's now official on Facebook. It's official in my book. Dana you may kiss your bride."

Hanna, who lists his profession on the networking site LinkedIn as chief architect at Next Day Pets, described his reaction to the ceremony on his YouTube account the day after the ceremony.

"I surprised not only my guests, but also Tracy (his wife) by pulling out my phone and posting on Facebook and Twitter from the altar during out wedding," he said.

Though users have sent marriage proposals over the micro-blogging site Twitter, interrupting a wedding ceremony to update social networking site Facebook and send out a Tweet on Twitter about it appears to be a first.

"I had her phone ready in my pocket, so when she asked for it I could hand it to her. No one knew about this except the minister and myself." he said on YouTube.

The Twitter post, which has garnered Hanna instant online fame, is still up on his account.

"Standing at the altar with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride. #weddingday 1:48 PM Nov 21st from Twittelator."

Yesterday, apparently overwhelmed by media attention, Hanna posted a new comment on his Twitter account.

"To all the criticizers of my video out there questioning my sanity: You don't get it. I was having fun at MY wedding! Loosen up, have fun!"

His new bride, apparently also surprised at the viral storm her husband launched, also posted on her Twitter account.

"Can't sleep, very anxious about this new fame. What will become of it?" she asked.

MANILA - Security forces on Saturday arrested Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan for their alleged involvement in the massacre of 57 people in the province last November 23.

The arrests were made after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's martial law proclamation in Maguindanao.

Armed Forces' chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado said Ampatuan Sr. was brought to the military's Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City.

Ibrado said the ARMM governor, who is also being investigated for the huge arms cache discovered near his residence in Shariff Aguak town, was brought to General Santos City.

An ABS-CBN News report said Maguindanao Vice-Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Jr. and Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan have already surrendered.

The report said the two were brought to the Maguindanao police provincial office. It said the two clarified that they surrendered to clear their names from the massacre.

A total of 5 Ampatuans have already been taken into custody.

The provincial governor's son, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Sr., is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila. He has been charged with 25 counts of murder.

Ibrado said they have received several feelers from the other suspects in the massacre. He said some of the suspects have already gone missing.

MANILA – The decision of President Arroyo to place the province of Maguindanao under martial law has caused uproar and drawn strong condemnations from various sectors.

Leila de Lima, head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), maintained that the government has no basis in declaring martial law, adding that it “is not what we need right now.”

""There are two factors that must be considered before declaring martial law – rebellion and chaos. This is not what we need right now. What we need is to arrest all suspects and armed men involved in the massacre," De Lima told ABS-CBN News.

Mrs. Arroyo officially declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao on Saturday morning in relation to the November 23 massacre of 57 innocent civilians in the province.

President Arroyo imposed martial law in an effort to rein in the Ampatuan family, a clan that until the massacre had ruled the province with the backing of the ruling coalition.

With the declaration of a state of martial law, the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has been suspended.

In her separate interview on ANC’s “Dateline Philippines Sunday,” De Lima disclosed that this new development in Maguindanao prompted the CHR en banc to hold an emergency meeting Sunday morning.

The CHR is worried about the possible violations of human rights in the province as well as the effects of the declaration on ordinary citizens, she added.

The former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, meantime, branded Mrs. Arroyo’s move as an “overkill” and illegal.

Lawyer Feliciano Bautista pointed out that there is no invasion and rebellion in Maguindanao, thus, there is no need for the President to issue Proclamation No. 1959.

Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Adel Tamano added that steps on solving the Maguindanao massacre should have been done within legalities.

“The Maguindanao massacre was an outrage but you do not solve it by committing an outrage on the rights of Mindanaoans, specifically those of Muslim Mindanao, by declaring unconstitutional martial law,” he added.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (2nd district) has also urged the public to be “extra” vigilant against a possible nationwide declaration of martial law.

Calls for vigilance

Bishop Bert Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente called on Congress to carefully study Proclamation No. 1959.

Calang feared that President Arroyo might eventually place the entire country under martial law.

UNO president Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay also expressed fears that the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao could be a ruse to allow authorities to hunt for evidence of election fraud during the 2004 presidential election.

"There have reports that the Ampatuans have threatened to make the Arroyo administration pay by telling all they know about the massive cheating in the province during the 2004 presidential elections," he said.

"If such reports are true, then this reduces the martial law proclamation into a hunt for evidence of election fraud," he added.

Binay, a human rights lawyer who had been detained when martial law was imposed in 1972, also called for vigilance in the face of government's supposed efforts to downplay the restrictions on human rights.

"It is a supposedly a smiling martial law, without the restrictions that are associated with martial law," he said. "Those of us who lived through, suffered, and fought during the martial law years can attest that there is no such thing as smiling martial law."

The MILF, meanwhile, said the imposition of martial law would not likely affect peace talks with the government.

MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said the group has asked the government to coordinate with the MILF as it pursues suspects in the Maguindanao massacre to avoid possible mis-encounters between government and MILF forces.

Kabalu added that his group is being constantly informed of the developments in the military operations on the massacre.

Businessmen divided over martial rule

Businessmen are divided over the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao. Many businesses in Maguindanao have closed shop, fearing that violence may erupt in the province flowing the imposition of martial rule.

Some said the declaration may prevent bloodshed, but others also feared that innocent civilians may be arrested.

Julhanni Bandila, executive director of the Maguindanao Chamber of Commerce, said he is not against the imposition of martial law, although he added that it has its share of good and bad effects.

“It will prevent unexpected lawless violence. Dahil diyan maraming checkpoints na na-establish within the area of Shariff Aguak. Pero actually, not all municipalities in the province are affected with this issue,” Bandila said in an interview on ANC’s “Prime News” Saturday night.

He related that residents in Shariff Aguak town were really affected. “Balita ko lahat ng tao umaalis na sa Shariff Aguak. Nag-evacuate na sila, and all business establishments nag-sarado na… kasi takot na ang mga tao sa increased military numbers sa Shariff Aguak.”

In Metro Manila, the Makati Business Club (MBC) opposed the imposition of martial law in the province.

The group, which is known to be critical of Mrs. Arroyo, said the declaration may raise fears in the international community.

According to MBC president Alberto Lim, the martial law declaration may be expanded.

But the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), a business group close to the Arroyo administration, said otherwise.

PCCI said martial law may be good for the economy. PCCI President Edgardo Lacson noted that the declaration would ensure peace in key cities such as Davao, General Santos and even Manila.

Lacson added that it would also allay fears of violence that are preventing foreign businesses from investing in the Philippines.

MANILA - President Arroyo on Sunday evening sent her written report to Congress on her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao last Friday as required by the Philippine Constitution.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde confirmed the presidential action in a text message to media.

“In compliance with the Constitution, the President has submitted her report to Congress. She personally rendered the report to congressional leaders starting at 8:30 p.m.,” said Remonde.

Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution requires the president, within 48 hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, to submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress.

The press secretary told ANC’s The World Tonight that the 20-page report signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was received by the secretary-general of the lower House before 8:58 p.m., and the secretary-general of the Senate at 9:11 p.m. Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak reported early Friday evening that President Arroyo had ordered a state of martial law in Maguindanao, which would take effect on Saturday.

When asked if it was proper that the report was given several minutes after the 48-hour period lapsed, Remonde said: “Well, I suppose they can make allowance for 11-minute discrepancy.” The declaration was signed 9 p.m. December 4 but formally announced early Saturday morning.

Remonde said the report contains the justification of the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao.

Remonde also said the report would “satisfy all questions, all doubts about the necessity of declaring martial law.”

Meanwhile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. also said that he arrived at Malacañang to get the report from President Arroyo on Proclamation No. 1959 which declared martial law in Maguindanao province.

“Existence of armed political uprising”

President’s Arroyo’s report to Congress, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News, pointed to the “existence of armed public uprising” as the basis for the martial rule declaration and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao. (Read: Full text of President Arroyo's report to Congress)

The report provided a short narration of the events of the massacre in Ampatuan town including pictures and descriptions of the bodies recovered, apparently from autopsy reports.

It also cited the initial steps taken by authorities including the declaration of a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.

The report said that the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. “would have resulted in the expeditious apprehension and prosecution of all others involved in the gruesome massacre.” The report said, however, that the “situation proved contrary.”

Ampatuan Jr. has been tagged as the leader of the 100 armed men who stopped a convoy of a rival political clan. The 57 bodies of members of the Mangudadatu clan, as well as that of lawyers and journalists who accompanied them in the convoy for a supposed filing of a certificate of candidacy in Shariff Aguak town, were later found by soldiers.

“The Ampatuan group backed by formidable group of armed followers, have since used their strength and political position to deprive the Chief Executive of her power to enforce the law and to maintain public order and safety,” said the report to Congress.

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.” It said that it came from “duly verified information.”

“Group of rebels”

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.”

Detailed descriptions were given of 8 armed groups ranging from 50 to 500 strong, most of which were described as having been “moved to offensive positions.”

The groups were reported to be armed with 2 “Sanguko” armored vehicles, light machine guns, recoilless rifles or bazookas and mortars among others.

The “rebels” are reportedly concentrated in 16 towns of Maguindanao which, the report said, are apparently the political stronghold of the Ampatuans.

One group was described to be led by a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front.

The president’s report to Congress also cited that the recovery of firearms from 400 security escorts of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and the recent discoveries of large caches of firearms and ammunitions highlighted the “existence of this armed rebellion.”

The report said that while the “ongoing rebellion” is being addressed by “conducting legitimate operations” it said that “public safety still requires the continued implementation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the Province of Maguindanao … until that such rebellion is completely quelled.”

“Right thing”

Remonde said he hoped that Congress would receive the report positively.

“The president did the right thing in this particular issue. We just hope that Congress would do the right thing too,” said Remonde.

Congress, voting jointly and by a vote of at least a majority of all its members, may revoke the martial law proclamation or suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus.

The Constitution says that a revocation by Congress “shall not be set aside by the President.”

Showdown

This early, however, a showdown between allies and critics of President Arroyo looms during the joint session of Congress scheduledon Tuesday.

Both sides are already preparing resolution for and against the measure.

On Monday, members of both chambers are expected to conduct separate caucuses to prepare for the joint session on Tuesday afternoon.

They are expected to scrutinize the President's written basis for her proclamation.

Authorities in Sulu on Monday said they are more inclined to believe that the Saturday explosion at the Jolo police station was an accident.

Senior Superintendent Tony Mendoza, Sulu police director, said tests conducted by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory on residue recovered from the blast site revealed some nitrate content.

Mendoza said that the finding confirms Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin's earlier announcement that there were sacks of dynamite and ammonium nitrate kept in the police station for safekeeping. The explosives were reportedly seized from fishermen who were into dynamite fishing.

The police official said that this would make the possibility that the blast was related to politics or terrorism nil.

A utility worker of the Police Station identified as Basirul Adidul died in the blast. The explosion also wounded 5 policemen and two civilians. One of the wounded cops however died while undergoing medical treatment in Zamboanga City.

Post-blast investigators said the explosion left a 18 feet wide and 7-foot deep crater. The blast damaged the police station, a part of the municipal hall and the Office of the Area Coordinating Center.

Police said that they are continuing their investigation on the incident to determine who should be held accountable.

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Several petitions were filed Monday before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to declare as unconstitutional President Arroyo’s Proclamation No. 1959, which placed most areas in the province of Maguindanao under martial law.

The first petition was filed by Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, whose daughter is related by marriage to the Ampatuans.

In his petition for certiorari and inhibition before the High Tribunal, Dilangalen questioned the grounds cited by Malacañang to declare martial law in the province.

The congressman said that under the 1987 Constitution, the President can only declare martial law in the Philippines or any part thereof in case of rebellion or invasion when the public sector requires it.

"It is very clear that it says actual rebellion or invasion. There is no such thing as imminent threat of rebellion or looming rebellion. There is no such thing as armed or public uprising in the area," he said in an ANC interview.

The other petitions were filed by the Ampatuans' lawyer, Philip Sigfrid Fortun; Albert Lee Angeles; human rights lawyers belonging to National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL); activist groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN); former Senator Jovito Salonga and several lawyers led by University of the Philippines (UP) law professor Harry Roque; and, law student Joseph Nelson Loyola. (Read: Petition to SC of Salonga, Pangalangan, Roque, etc. on Proclamation No. 1959)

The petitioners are seeking the High Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the enforcement of martial law in Maguindanao.

SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said all petitions relating to the Maguindanao incident would be discussed by the SC magistrates during its regular en banc session Tuesday.

“It will be included in tomorrow’s [Tuesday] agenda of the en banc. We will try to include all others in tomorrow’s agenda as well. Most probably, they will all be consolidated,” Marquez said in a text message.

Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution states that the SC “may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or the extension thereof, and must promulgate its decision thereon within thirty days from its filing.”

Other petitions

In his petition, Fortun argued that the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao has no factual basis as no actual rebellion or invasion exist, and that the local judicial system that has jurisdiction over Maguindanao is fully operational, contrary to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera's claim.

He also cited Section 18 of the Constitution which allows the President to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the country under martial law for a period not exceeding 60 days “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.”

Fortun insisted that even imminent danger of rebellion does not exist in Maguindanao considering that the government has assured that it has full control of the situation following the declaration of a state of emergency and the corresponding takeover of the province by government authorities.

Fortun also noted that the Ampatuans had already signified that they were willing to cooperate with the authorities in connection with the massacre of 57 civilians, including 30 journalists.

“No danger of retaliation or tumultuous uprising from the Ampatuans could therefore be expected. Thus, the claim of the government that supporters of, or the Ampatuans were brewing a plan to publicly rise and take up arms against it is pure speculation and conjecture,” Fortun said.

'No sufficient factual basis'

On the other hand, the NUPL and its co-petitioners argued that the claim of the government that there were heavily-armed groups that have established positions in some areas in Maguindanao has not been confirmed by other sources except by military and executive officials.

“As of this filing, however, no arrest or even a single encounter has happened between military troops and the so-called ‘heavily armed groups in the province of Maguindanao that have established positions to resist government troops, thereby depriving the Executive of its powers and prerogatives to enforce laws and to maintain public order and safety’ claimed by Malacañang to be present in the province and used as a reason in the issuance of Proclamation No. 1959,” the petitioners said.

They noted that even the full text of Proclamation No. 1959 fails to state any sufficient factual basis for the declaration of martial law.

The petitioners said mere allegations about the alleged deterioration of the condition of peace and order in Maguindanao, to the extent that the local judicial system and other government mechanisms in the province are not functioning, are not enough bases for a declaration of martial law.

The petitioners also stressed that there was no instance, since the Maguindanao massacre happened, where President Arroyo has been deprived of any of her powers or prerogatives since she was able to exercise her powers as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by issuing Proclamation No. 1946.

“The proclamation of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus are not a substitute for the incompetence of the authorities in the immediate arrest and detention of the butchers in the Ampatuan town massacre,” the petitioners said.

“Abuse of discretion”

Meanwhile, Salonga’s group also maintained that President Arroyo abused her discretion in declaring martial law in Maguindanao considering that the massacre in Ampatuan town is a police matter already addressed by her earlier declaration of a state of emergency, which also covered the province.

“There is no one to blame for the breakdown of government functions in Maguindanao but the Arroyo administration itself, since from November 27, 2009, it had shut down government offices in the province and placed them under the control and supervision of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno," they argued.

They noted that the alleged acts of rebellion by the Ampatuans had already been quashed with the confiscation by the police and the military of huge caches of arms, explosives and ammunition.

Rebellion charges filed

Meanwhile, Devanadera said the Philippine National Police has already filed a formal complaint of rebellion against 24 individuals including former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan.

Devanadera said a panel of prosecutors, led by Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera, is still conducting inquest proceedings to determine whether there is probable cause to file rebellion charges against them before the trial court.

“The prosecutors are still conducting inquest proceedings. I don’t want to preempt their findings. If the evidence would warrant the filing of a case, then we will file it. If not, then they will be released,” she said.

The prosecutors have three days or until Tuesday to “judicially charge” those persons arrested during the implementation of martial law.

Aside from the petitions seeking the lifting of Proclamation No. 1959, the other issues to be tackled by the SC are the petitions filed by ARMM Gov. Ampatuan and other ARMM officials on the following:

• seeking to enjoin government authorities from taking control of the region and suspending local officials and employees accused of having involvement in the November 23 massacre;
• the petition of the Ampatuans seeking the issuance of TRO to enjoin authorities from arresting them without a warrant; and,
• the motion of the Department of Justice seeking the transfer of the court proceedings involving the Maguindanao massacre to any court in Metro Manila.

Facebook users will soon lose the ability to join a network of friends who live in the same area but will gain the widely desired ability to control who sees every piece of information they post.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, in an open letter to users that appeared on the site Wednesday morning, said the social networking site has outgrown the usefulness of regional networks.

"[A]s Facebook has grown, some of these regional networks now have millions of members and we've concluded that this is no longer the best way for you to control your privacy," he said in the letter.

Almost half of all Facebook users are members of at least one regional network, according to Zuckerberg. Users can specify that some of their posts on the site only go to specific networks.

Other networks like high schools, colleges and places of employment will not be affected by the change.

In place of the geography networks,Facebook will be creating what it calls a simpler network for privacy controls.

The highlight will be the option of deciding which Facebook friends see updates, photos or other posts at the time they're posted -- "something many of you have asked for," Zuckerberg said.

"In addition, we'll also be fulfilling a request made by many of you to make the privacy-settings page simpler by combining some settings," he said.

The letter said that, in the next couple of weeks, Facebook's roughly 350 million users will be asked to review and update their privacy settings. A message on the site will explain the changes and take users to the page where they can update the settings, Zuckerberg said.

In the several hours after Zuckerberg's letter was posted, more than 18,000 users had posted replies to it. Most of the feedback appeared positive.

"Great idea!!" one user wrote. "Privacy is seriously important on Facebook, I got about 800 friends that come from different groups of people and places. Thanks."

Others took the opportunity to write about a persistent pet issue for some users -- the desire for a "dislike" button to criticize other people's posts. Facebook has made no statements about whether that potentially drama-inducing feature will ever be added.

NEW YORK -- Because oil prices have always been directly related to the strength of the economy, a recovery might have seen headlines like these:

• The recession ends: Get ready for $100 oil

• The economy roars: $140 oil, is there an end in sight?

• Everyone in China buys a Cadillac: World tapped out

But a growing number of experts are saying that you can forget all that. For the next couple of years, they say, oil prices will remain well below $100 a barrel as the economy remains fragile and efficiency measures kick in.

"The world will never run out of oil," Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a recent research note, echoing the old logic that the Stone Age didn't end because the world ran out of stone. "If the oil age does end, it likely will be because we become more efficient and simply use less petroleum."

It's this "becoming more efficient" idea that the Deutsche Bank analysts use to predict even lower oil prices in 2010 than now - an average of $65 a barrel next year compared to nearly $80 currently.

To get there, they employ a metric known as energy intensity, which basically measures the amount of oil used in relation to the size of the economy. (Keep an eye on this term in the next couple of weeks - countries at the upcoming Copenhagen summit on climate change will use it to try to wiggle out of making any hard commitments on cutting greenhouse gases.)

The energy intensity of the U.S. economy has actually dropped by about 2% a year every year since the early 1980s. In the next couple of years Deutsche Bank expects it to decline by around 3% as people buy more fuel efficient cars and respond in other ways to the high prices of 2004-2008 and as government conservation measures kick in.

With economic growth expected to remain at a sluggish 2.5% or so over the next couple of years, that translates into an actual drop in U.S. oil consumption.

"US oil demand may have already peaked," the note said.

The bank's numbers aren't far off from what the government is saying either.

U.S. oil consumption, which peaked at almost 21 million barrels a day in 2005, is now under 19 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration.

"The last time we had a decline in consumption of this magnitude was 1979-82," said Tancred Lidderdale, an oil analyst at EIA. U.S. oil demand isn't expected to near 21 million barrels a day again until 2029.

But what about Chinese demand? Speculators? Geopolitical tensions? Or any one of the myriad reasons cited for rising oil prices?

Chinese economic growth at this quick rate is not sustainable, said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy, an energy brokerage in Stamford, Conn. Besides, he says, the Chinese will likely reduce the energy intensity of their economy even faster than America.

And by the time hundreds of million of Chinese are buying cars, the fleet could very well be all-electric.

As for speculators, Armstrong said credit tightening is making it harder for them to make the big bets on energy that were seen before the crisis.

And geopolitical flare-ups in oil-rich nations are much less apt to affect prices now that the world has the ability to produce much more oil than it is using. Indeed, this lack of spare capacity was an underlying reason oil prices got so high in 2008. That year, spare capacity hit a low of 1 million barrels a day, a mere tanker load away from demand exceeding supply.

Now that number is almost 4 million barrels a day, and expected to grow to 4.5 million barrels a day by the middle of next year.

"There's so much spare capacity right now," said Armstrong, noting that oil prices in the $70 range are still high enough to insure new supplies are being brought online. "It's very difficult to see prices much higher."

MANILA - Many Filipinos on micro-blogging site Twitter criticized President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's plan to run for the 2nd district of Pampanga in 2010.

Twitter users who sent their reactions via ANC's twitter account (@ANCAlerts) alleged that Arroyo's political plans speaks of her greed and lack of "delicadeza" or decency.

Aside from expletives, Twitter users called the Philippine president "shameless", "indecent", and "addicted to power."

"It just shows that power tend[s] to be addictive. She does not want to let go, it's not public service but self greediness," said a user named Mammothee.

Other users also pointed out that Arroyo can "still serve the country outside politics." "[There are] so many ways to do public service. No need to be in the position. She's 'hayok' (greedy) for power," said user rengmiranda.

Mistrust

Some users also called her a liar, since Arroyo had promised several times that she would "step down" as president of the country. She has been president since 2001.

In 2002, Arroyo declared that she would not run in the 2004 polls, but she ran and won as president, later prompting allegations that she had the elections rigged.

In her State of the Nation Address this year, Arroyo promised she would step down as president. Her critics wryly pointed out that she had not specified whether she would run for another elective post.

"She has shown her true colors. She has no shame. I hope for her humiliating defeat," said a user named ginoongabendan.

Suspicious

Other "tweets" were less irate, however, but still showed suspicion about Arroyo's plan.

"Her plan is to control Congress so if Noynoy [or presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Aquino III] wins he'd 'go slow' on her or she'd give him [a] hard time," said a user named FlyingVoter.

Trixie Angeles, meanwhie, said Arroyo would be continuing a long-drawn out political dynasty.

Suspicion also ran high among Twitter users that Arroyo would continue her plan for Constitutional Change (or a switch to a parliamentary form of government) in Congress.

"If she wins, nobody let the gov[ernment] switch to parliamentary, please," said user kalsangikid.

Only one user, named ferdieble, said voters should give Arroyo the benefit of the doubt. However, the user expressed hope that Arroyo would not run.

Facebook

Facebook users also voiced their outrage over Arroyo's Congressional bid on the popular social networking site.

Several users sent comments to the Facebook page of Mornings@ANC, also calling the president greedy, selfish and power-hungry.

"Given 9 years in power, sana 'yong term niya eh naayos niya ang ating bansa. Sobrang kapit sa puwesto. Ano bang meron at gusto pa rin niya to stay in power? Bigyan naman niya ng chance ang iba," said one Facebook user.

(Given 9 years in power, she could have fixed the state of the country during her term. She's wants to keep her grip on power. What is there that she wants to stay in power so badly? She should give others a chance.)

Another user said her bid is a "great challenge" to the people of Pampanga. "To prove to the world that they deserve better," the user said.

However, another Facebook user said Arroyo must be a "brilliant political strategist" to run in her bailiwick, where she reportedly has a fighting chance to win.

"They may hate her on the national level, but maybe in her own turf, the situation is different," the user said.

MANILA - The military on Thursday unearthed a large cache of arms and ammunition, enough to supply a brigade-size unit of the military near the mansions of the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak, capital town of Maguindanao.

In an interview, Col. Leo Cresente Ferrer, Philippine Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade acting commander, said they found different types of high-powered firearms and ammunition buried in the ground in a vacant lot in Poblacion 3 in Shariff Aguak.

He said the lot is near the mansions of the Ampatuans, who are being investigated for their role in the Ampatuan massacre last November 23.

As of 8:30 p.m., Ferrer said they have discovered 141 boxes of ammunition for high-powered firearms such as M60 machine gun, M16 automatic rifles as well as caliber .45 bullets.

The Army commander said the ammunition found can supply the requirements of a brigade-size unit. An Army brigade consists of at least 1,500 men or at least 2 battalions plus several companies.

He said they also found the following:

• two 81mm mortars;
• a 60mm mortar;
• two 90mm and one 57mm recoilless rifles commonly known as bazookas;
• 4 M60 machine guns;
• caliber .50 Barrett machine gun;
• 200 other high-powered guns;
• 1 Ultimax light machine gun;
• 1 Bushmaster 5.56mm carbine;
• 2 Browning Automatic rifles (BARs);
• 1 FAL automatic rifle;
• 1 AK-47;
• 1 Heckler & Koch HK 11 light support machine gun;
• one 5.56mm M4 carbine;
• 9mm and caliber .45 pistols.

Gun replacement parts were also found.

More ammos expected

Ferrer estimated that the military hardware they have so far found has been placed in an area the size of a basketball court. He said the armaments found so far are worth around P1.4 million.

He said they expect to recover more guns and ammunition since the digging is still ongoing.

The digging may take 2 days since the soldiers are only using their hands.

Ferrer said they initially used a bulldozer but decided to stop using it since it might trigger an explosion in case they hit a bomb, artillery or mortar round buried in the ground.

Ferrer said a concerned citizen reported the arms cache to the Army on November 25, 2 days after the massacre which killed at least 57 people in Ampatuan town. The concerned citizen claimed to have seen a backhoe digging in the vacant lot after the killings.

“We have information from a concerned citizen, this was given to the Army and the police, that there was something buried on the night of Nov. 25,” he said.

He said they immediately sent a unit with bomb-sniffing dogs to confirm the report.

From gov't arsenal

Ferrer said the ammunition boxes found bore markings of Armscor, meaning it came from the Government Arsenal in Bataan. He said some of the boxes even indicate the date of manufacture, June 2009.

Armscor supplies ammunition to the military, police, and also civilians, but only upon authorization of the government.

He said military and police uniforms were also found at the excavation site.

Ferrer, however, declined to connect the Ampatuans to the buried arms cache.

He said it would be up to the police to file a case based on the evidence found by investigators.

He said he could not confirm if the firearms were used in the Ampatuan massacre.

“I don’t know. We have the mortars and I don’t believe the mortars were used. May mga bala rin dito, different calibers, puwedeng nagamit noon o ibinaon para sa ganoon magamit pa ng mga goons ng mga private armies,” said Ferrer.

However, he said everyone knows who has the capacity and influence to buy such a large amount of firearms and ammunition.

“We will find out. Wala pa kaming personality. Pero obvious naman eh,” said Ferrer.

Ferrer also expressed his thanks to the civilian who tipped them off. He said the informant is helping achieve peace in Maguindanao.

A breakthrough

Director Felizardo Serapio Jr., directorate for Integrated Police Office-Western Mindanao, hailed the arms and ammunition find.

“This is a breakthrough sa investigation side. Naka-breakthrough na tayo dun sa shells ano... This has been one of the clamor na bakit nakikita natin old firearms. Here, we can see bago, mga brand new... we have not only assault rifles but we have offensive weapons like the Barrett,” said Serapio.

The military earlier recovered firearms from the two Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) companies of Maguindanao which are alleged to have been used by the Ampatuans as part of their private army.

However, the recovery of the firearms was criticized since only old firearms such as World War II-vintage M1 Garand rifles were turned over.

The military said the arms and ammunition from the excavation site would be turned over to police, who are expected to test the firearms and see if they were used in the Ampatuan massacre.

“We will know that after the investigation. We will find out...That will be one of the objectives of our investigation. Most probably, may koneksyon sa mga nangyayari,” said Serapio.

Hold accountable

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public information chief, said that whoever was responsible for the buried arms cache found would be held accountable.

He said that the AFP and the Department of National Defense (DND) will immediately launch an investigation.

He confirmed that the ammunitions found were from the Government Arsenal.

Brawner said only soldiers and police should be using supplies from the Government Arsenal located in Limay town in Bataan province, which is where ammunition is manufactured.

Like Ferrer, he also declined to identify who is responsible for the arms cache.