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But the declaration of martial law – the first in the country since 1972 – was criticized both as an overreaction and as a ploy to preserve Arroyo's political standing. Critics question whether a rebellion is actually occurring.

Human rights lawyer Jejomar Binay, believes the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao could be a ruse to allow authorities to look for and eliminate evidence of election fraud during the 2004 presidential election. "There have been 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 says, referring to reports widely circulated in local media. "If such reports are true, then this reduces the martial law proclamation into a hunt for evidence of election fraud," he added.