(CNN) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted martial law in the country's south, which she declared after the massacre of 57 people last month, Philippine news outlets reported Saturday.





The order lifting martial law was due to be effective at 9 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) Saturday, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) and CNN affiliate ABS-CBN said.





Military troops will remain in Maguindanao province to keep the peace despite the move, said Victor Ibrado, chief of staff of the Philippine armed forces, PNA said.





Arroyo imposed martial law December 4 but lifted it Saturday after deciding it had achieved its objectives, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said, according to PNA.





Local government was now back in power and the justice system was functioning again, he said.





Authorities have said the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao province was a politically motivated attempt to keep an opponent of the politically powerful Ampatuan family from running for governor.





Thirty journalists were among those killed.





The martial law allowed arrests without warrants, and at least six members of the Ampatuan family -- including a local mayor -- were arrested, according to ABS-CBN.





Authorities raided a warehouse and ranch belonging to the family last weekend and confiscated firearms, ammunition and vehicles, Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, deputy of operations for the eastern Mindanao command, told CNN.





Ermita said Saturday that three charges of multiple murders were filed in court, and that 24 people were charged with rebellion. The Philippine National Police has referred nearly 900 other cases to the Department of Justice, he said.





Violence in the run-up to elections is not uncommon in the Philippines. The Maguindanao massacre, however, is the worst politically motivated violence in recent Philippine history, according to state media.





The victims included the wife and sister of political candidate Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, who had sent the women to file paperwork allowing him to run for governor of Maguindanao. He said he had received threats from allies of Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the father of the accused mayor, saying he would be kidnapped if he filed the papers himself.





Maguindanao is part of an autonomous region in predominantly Muslim Mindanao, which was set up in the 1990s to quell armed uprisings by people seeking an independent Muslim homeland in the predominantly Christian Asian nation.
What is Maguindanao part of? When was the massacre? What day was the massacre in Maguindanao province? Order lifting martial law was due  to be effective at what time? how many member are involved Maguindanao is in what  region? When is the law due to be effective?
autonomous region in predominantly Muslim Mindanao, November 23 November 23 9 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) Saturday, six Philippines. 9 p.m.
question: What is Maguindanao part of?, answer: autonomous region in predominantly Muslim Mindanao, | question: When was the massacre?, answer: November 23 | question: What day was the massacre in Maguindanao province?, answer: November 23 | question: Order lifting martial law was due  to be effective at what time?, answer: 9 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) Saturday, | question: how many member are involved, answer: six | question: Maguindanao is in what  region?, answer: Philippines. | question: When is the law due to be effective?, answer: 9 p.m.