MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Thursday said he wants the entire provincial government in Maguindanao investigated and local officials suspended over the Maguindanao massacre.

At a press conference, Puno said, "All officials directly or indirectly involved in this crime be removed on preventive suspension."

This includes several members of the Ampatuan clan.

“I’m submitting to the Office of the President a request to investigate the provincial government of Maguindanao to include the governor and all provincial officials relative to this case, which will be accompanied by a recommendation for the immediate preventive suspension of all these local officials,” Puno said.

He said he made this request to the Office of the President as the Department of Interior and Local Government does not have jurisdiction over the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

“When that happens, according to the local government code, there will be an appointive set of officers if the preventive suspension is granted and no officials are left. The vacant positions will be appointed on a temporary basis and they can then review the situation of the different municipalities,” Puno said.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa said that apart from Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., authorities are looking at around 100 more suspects involved in the brutal killing of at least 57 individuals.

Verzosa said police are still collating more evidences that would lead to the arrest of those involved.

“We are looking at around – there are around 100 that could have participated in the abduction and killing. We have also to look into the use of a backhoe with markings of the provincial government of Maguindanao. Now, the charges will depend on the complicity of the suspect being investigated,” Verzosa added.