President Duterte declared early yesterday a “state of lawlessness” nationwide after a powerful blast ripped through a busy night market in his home city of Davao, leaving 15 people dead and at least 71 others wounded.

“I have this duty to protect the country. I have this duty to keep intact the integrity of this nation. So I am declaring now a state of lawlessness,” the Chief Executive told reporters after he visited the site of the blast.

“I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the military, and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications,” Duterte said as he emphasized that the declaration “is not martial law” and “has nothing to do with the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.”

The declaration, according to the President, would require “nationwide, well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police.”

BRUNEI TRIP CANCELLED

Duterte, who cancelled his planned working visit to Brunei following the Davao City carnage, said the state of lawlessness will last until such time that he feels the country “is safe for everyone again.”

“These are extraordinary times,” the President said, noting that there is now a “crisis” involving drugs, extrajudicial killings, and what seems to be an environment of lawlessness or lawless violence, as well as the Abu Sayyaf, who had already claimed responsibility for the deadly blast. The President said the government has been expecting reprisal from the Abu Sayyaf after he ordered security forces to crush the bandit group.

Therefore, any punitive action taken by security forces will be in furtherance to stop terrorism, as well as illegal drugs, he further stated.

The President said he is including drugs because of the so many killings that are being unfairly attributed to the police, as if these are the handiwork of members of the police force.

‘STOP AT CHECKPOINTS’

And as the declaration will see major checkpoints, he also called on the public to cooperate.

“Huminto kayo sa mga (Stop at) checkpoints … if you see a sign and there are soldiers (or policemen) flashing their lights, turn off your headlights, switch on (the) light inside your car because I am authorizing them to search,” he said.

“I am suggesting that you be liberal enough to understand … because we are trying to cope with a crisis now,” added the President.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella urged the public to cooperate. “It is for our own safety. The government is doing its best but the unity and cooperation of everybody is necessary to fight the terrorists and to cleanse the country of criminality.”

He also advised the public to be vigilant and to report to authorities information about people sowing crimes.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said more random and surprise checkpoints, aside from the regular stationary checkpoints round the country, will be conducted.

Dela Rosa said the public should expect more police visibility and security checks in the coming days.

“Our provincial directors and chiefs of police were directed to supervise checkpoints and deployment of patrols in areas of convergence and vital installations,” said Dela Rosa.

“Security in seaports, airports, terminals, malls and other public areas should be doubled,” he added.

“We ask our people to bear with us as we dutifully but courteously conducted our checkpoints and increase our presence in some areas.  Your soldiers are there to ensure that public will be safe and that no criminals or terrorists lurk in our streets and perpetrate another vicious act,” said Marine Col. Edgard A. Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO).

DRILON DISAGREES

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin M. Drilon does not agree with the declaration of state of lawlessness.

While the Chief Executive “has access to intelligence information,” Drilon said he does not see any widespread lawless elements in other parts of the country to justify calling of the military to support his declaration of lawlessness.

Drilon said he sees the Davao City bombing as an “isolated incident.”

But other lawmakers support Duterte’s declaration.

Those who support the President’s move are Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Congressmen Karlo Nograles, Winston Castelo, Fredenil Castro, Makmod Mending Jr., Toby Tiangco, Jerry Trenas, and Jorge Almonte.

PNP, AFP ON HIGHEST ALERT

Police and military forces across the country were placed in the highest security alert status following the Davao City bombing.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had already instructed all the major command services in the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Army, Navy and Air Force – to be on high alert to avert other terror attacks that could be carried out by the Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups.

“The Eastern Command in Davao City has been directed to assist the PNP in maintaining peace and order in Davao City and in the apprehension of the perpetrators,” said Lorenzana.

“They will also aid in gathering intelligence information and in conducting investigations to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident,” he added.

Dela Rosa said he had already issued a memorandum to all the police commanders nationwide to be on full alert status in connection with the Davao City blast.

“All regional directors are directed to strengthen and fortify all police stations, detachments and police camps. Likewise, they are also directed to coordinate with all intelligence and friendly units in your areas and exercise extreme caution in conducting checkpoints,” said Dela Rosa.

RETALIATORY ATTACK

Both Lorenzana and dela Rosa believe that it is indeed the ASG which carried out the attack in retaliation to the all-out war waged by President Duterte against the bandit group, especially in Sulu.

Lorenzana said the ASG appears to be diverting the government attention away from Sulu where they have been the target of massive military operations.

Last week, the ASG lost 30 of its fighters, including two sub-commanders, in Sulu following a fierce gun battle that also left 15 soldiers dead.

“The continuing directive by the AFP Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya has been for our personnel to be vigilant and ready for any eventuality. The AFP is prepared to undertake any task that will be issued in regard to the declaration of state of lawlessness by the Commander-in-Chief President Rodrigo Duterte,” said Arevalo.

Dela Rosa said the involvement of the ASG is just one of the angles they are looking into as a possible motive in the Davao City blast.

“This might be a diversionary move to ease up the pressure that they have been experiencing in Sulu. But this is just initial and the investigation is ongoing,” said Dela Rosa.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) likewise intensified the alert status of their security personnel following the blast.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said security personnel are on heightened alert since Wednesday upon the directive of Admiral William Melad.

“They are directed to implement security measures in major ports nationwide. This includes the Coast Guard Anti-Terrorism Unit, K-9, and Law Enforcement Teams,” he said.

NO NEED TO PANIC

Abella called on the public to remain calm yet vigilant as the government is on top of the situation.

“Everything is under control,” Abella said, a few hours after President Duterte place the country under a state of lawlessness.

“There is no need to panic, there is no need to be extraordinarily concerned. Let us just be cautious,” Abella said in a radio interview.

“It is best that the populace refrain from reckless, speculation, and avoid crowded places. There is no cause for alarm but it is wise to be cautious,” Abella added.

Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles called on the faithful in his archdiocese to stay calm.

“Let us be calm and be confident knowing that the Lord is always with his children, and that he will bring to justice those cause pain and harm to his children,” Valles said in an interview.

The prelate also called upon all men and women of goodwill in the city to “renew our resolve to continue our caring for one another as brothers and sisters.”

FOREIGN HELP IN PROBE REJECTED

The United States, the country’s treaty ally, said it stands ready to provide assistance to the Philippine government in the investigation of the deadly explosion.

“We understand that local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosion in the night market, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation,” he added,” US National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said.

But President Duterte said no foreign government or group will be allowed to investigate the bombing, saying he has full trust and confidence in the capability of the local security forces to probe the cause of incident and hunt down the perpetrators.

“I do not want any foreign investigators in my city,” the President said in a media interview when he visited the blast site.

“The police of the Republic of the Philippines and the military, the Armed Forces of the country, are capable of doing the investigation and doing it correctly,” he said.

Duterte said he would let the military and police “do their thing” since he was neither a policeman nor soldier. “They can do what they really want to address the problem and to find out who are the responsible people who committed the crime,” he said.

“We will investigate and in the fullness of God’s time, we may be able to solve the problem,” he added.

In a statement issued early Saturday morning, Price also extended the US government’s deep condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims of the explosion and offered prayers for those injured.

Price said US President Barack Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to President Duterte when the two leaders meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos.

LENI CONDEMNS ATTACK

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo condemned the violent attack as she vowed  to join the country in its fight against terrorism amid the violent attack in Davao City. She called the deadly blast “senseless and criminal act.”

“Let us all come together in fighting against the scourge of terrorism,” Robredo said.

She is also one with the nation in grieving for the victims of the blast.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives or were injured in last night’s attack in Davao,” the Vice President said.

She called on authorities to take “calm and collective action” to bring those responsible to justice and maintain peace and order to the country.

‘WE WON’T BE TERRORIZED’

In the wake of the deadly blast, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said Dabawenyos will not be terrorized by the attack.

“We will not be terrorized by this heinous crime and I call on all Dabawenyos to unite and let us help each other rise from this senseless incident,” she said as she expressed her deepest condolences to the families of those who perished.

Duterte also apologized for the deadly blast.

“I am sorry for what happened,” she said in a statement

“I would also like to reassure all of them, as well as the families of those who were wounded that the city government of Davao will assist in all their needs for hospitalization, burial, funeral, and day-to-day expenses,” the lady mayor said.

She likewise called on other officials to focus on their respective duties.

“I would like to remind other officials to stay within the bounds of their official duties, according to their position. Please leave me in peace to do my job and I’ll leave you to focus on your own work,” the lady mayor said as she called on the public to remain vigilant and report any and all suspicious activities.

ATTACK CONDEMNED

Like Robredo and Mayor Duterte, other officials also condemned the Davao City carnage.

Among the senators who assailed the attack were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Drilon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Francis Pangilinan. (With reports from Francis T. Wakefield, Argyll B. Geducos, Roy C. Mabasa, Leslie Ann G. Aquino, Mario B. Casayuran, Ellson A. Quismorio, and Charissa M. Luci)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Elena L. Aben, Genalyn D. Kabiling, and Aaron B. Recuenco

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