Senator Robin Padilla (Facebook)


To prevent the social volcano in Negros Oriental from erupting due to crimes and abuses, is it time for a "military takeover" there? This was the question posed by Sen. Robinhood "Robin" Padilla on Wednesday, April 19, at the public  hearing by the Senate  Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the March 4 murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. Padilla, who likened the situation in the province to a volcano waiting to explode, said the Constitution allows a takeover by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) if needed, and if authorized by the President. "Sa ating Konstitusyon malinaw sinasabi kapag ang isang lugar ay pinamumugaran na ng ganitong klaseng krimen pinapayagan po ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na mag-takeover kayo at ayusin ang lugar na yan. Sa palagay ninyo di pa ito napapanahon sa Negros Oriental (Our Constitution is clear - if an area is infested with crimes, the President is allowed to authorize the military to take over. Do you think it is time for this in Negros Oriental)?" he asked the AFP representatives at the hearing. "[Ang] nararamdaman ko parang bulkan itong naghihintay sumabog dito sa lugar na ito. Palagay ko sa sarili kong maliit na opinyon, parang kailangan na po talaga na kayo rito ng military (I feel the situation in the province is like a volcano waiting to explode. My opinion is we need the military there)," he added. Padilla noted that under Art. VII, Sec. 18 of the Constitution, "The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.” He added that aside from the murder of the governor, there have been many other victims of other crimes including those merely seeking aid. "Masukal po ang mga usaping ito ngunit sa lahat ng testimonya, damdamin, at emosyong bumuhos sa ating pagdinig, hindi po nawawala ang tampok na problema: ang kawalan ng tiwala sa ating kapulisan, ang patuloy na impunity sa Negros, at ang pagsira sa pangalan ng institusyon dahil sa mga scalawag o kalawang na patuloy na sumisira sa pundasyon ng PNP (Based on the testimonies and emotions from earlier hearings, the problem remains - the loss of trust in our police, the continued impunity in Negros, and the tarnishing of the name of our Philippine National Police)," he said. "Ang mga indibidwal na ito ay minsang pinagkatiwalaan ng tungkuling pangalagaan ang ating bansa, sinanay at ginastusan ng gobyerno para magsilbi sa publiko. Ang paggamit po ng kanilang kadalubhasaan upang isagawa ang gayong kasuklam-suklam na krimen ay hindi po katanggap-tanggap (These individuals are trusted and trained to protect the people. Their use of their skills to commit such heinous crimes is unacceptable)," he added. Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the governor's widow, agreed with Padilla's point that it is time for "military control" though not to the point of martial law. "If that would hasten gaano katagal bago truly one can feel wala na talaga ang intimidation, para sa akin in my personal point of view ok ako kung ganoon na lang muna (If that would hasten ending the feeling of impunity, then personally I am okay with it)," she said. Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres also agreed with Padilla that the situation in the province is "urgent".
Padilla is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.