Duterte rules out martial law in Negros
Published Aug 6, 2019 06:57 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte has ruled out placing Negros under martial law and will instead consider the deployment of more government troops to the island to address the “ruckus” there.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The President said his “drastic” plan actually involves filling the island with soldiers to combat lawless elements.
“You have a ruckus there in Negros. Ang sinabi kong drastic action was that punuin ko ng sundalo just like Jolo. I have one division tapos magpadala pa ako ng dagdag ," Duterte said during the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines and Liga ng mga Barangay in Malacañang.
He said the military will be more stringent in carrying out security measures, including checkpoints if trouble persists in the area. “Life is not really that good, that comfortable, especially with so many military around and so many checkpoints. And if the trouble continues the more that the military will be quite stringent,” he said.
Duterte explained that he will “never” declare martial law, except in Mindanao where it was needed to quell a rebellion.
“Look, there will never be a time that I will declare martial law. What I said was that I would take drastic actions,” he said.
He said the martial law proclamation and deployment of troops were “the same” and will go after lawless elements. “It's the same. You do not go after innocent people. Martial law, you go after the lawless elements. So why do you have to declare it? Why do I have to tell Congress?” he asked.
But if the situation escalates and affects the nation, Duterte said he might declare “another thing” without giving details. “That is for you to guess what would it be,” he said.
“Pero martial law, suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, it’s just a proclamation, nothing. You don’t go after innocent people, you do not go after law-abiding… You would only go after the criminals and those who sow disorder in this country,” he said.
Earlier, Malacañang said the President will not declare martial law in Negros since there is no rebellion in the area. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo explained that the situation in Negros does not yet warrant the declaration of martial law despite the spate of killings.
Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, however, told the President that he could also use his emergency power to call the military to quell lawless violence in the island.
Duterte had earlier denounced the “unbridled” and “unabated” killings alleged perpetrated by communist rebels in Negros, saying he was prepared to take “drastic” measure to address the situation.
He also revealed plans to arm the country’s firefighters to keep peace and order as well as kill the enemy. He said his sparrow unit called “angels” will also be deployed to hunt down the New People’s Army hitmen.
Under the Constitution, the President may declare martial law and suspend the privilege of writ of habeas corpus for a period not exceeding 60 days “in case of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.”
The Constitution also states that “upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The President said his “drastic” plan actually involves filling the island with soldiers to combat lawless elements.
“You have a ruckus there in Negros. Ang sinabi kong drastic action was that punuin ko ng sundalo just like Jolo. I have one division tapos magpadala pa ako ng dagdag ," Duterte said during the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines and Liga ng mga Barangay in Malacañang.
He said the military will be more stringent in carrying out security measures, including checkpoints if trouble persists in the area. “Life is not really that good, that comfortable, especially with so many military around and so many checkpoints. And if the trouble continues the more that the military will be quite stringent,” he said.
Duterte explained that he will “never” declare martial law, except in Mindanao where it was needed to quell a rebellion.
“Look, there will never be a time that I will declare martial law. What I said was that I would take drastic actions,” he said.
He said the martial law proclamation and deployment of troops were “the same” and will go after lawless elements. “It's the same. You do not go after innocent people. Martial law, you go after the lawless elements. So why do you have to declare it? Why do I have to tell Congress?” he asked.
But if the situation escalates and affects the nation, Duterte said he might declare “another thing” without giving details. “That is for you to guess what would it be,” he said.
“Pero martial law, suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, it’s just a proclamation, nothing. You don’t go after innocent people, you do not go after law-abiding… You would only go after the criminals and those who sow disorder in this country,” he said.
Earlier, Malacañang said the President will not declare martial law in Negros since there is no rebellion in the area. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo explained that the situation in Negros does not yet warrant the declaration of martial law despite the spate of killings.
Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, however, told the President that he could also use his emergency power to call the military to quell lawless violence in the island.
Duterte had earlier denounced the “unbridled” and “unabated” killings alleged perpetrated by communist rebels in Negros, saying he was prepared to take “drastic” measure to address the situation.
He also revealed plans to arm the country’s firefighters to keep peace and order as well as kill the enemy. He said his sparrow unit called “angels” will also be deployed to hunt down the New People’s Army hitmen.
Under the Constitution, the President may declare martial law and suspend the privilege of writ of habeas corpus for a period not exceeding 60 days “in case of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.”
The Constitution also states that “upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”