Negros Occidental gov says there’s no telling what Duterte would do with martial law in neighbor Oriental

BACOLOD CITY–Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he hoped for an end to the bloodshed in his neighboring province, Negros Oriental, so President Rodrigo Duterte won’t have to use emergency powers or declare martial law.

“When you use emergency powers, you can’t tell what sort of power the President will use to deter this problem of local insurgency,” he said.

“I just hope that it doesn’t happen that he has to use emergency powers here in our island,” Lacson said.

Salvador Panelo, presidential spokesperson and chief legal counsel, said Duterte might declare martial law in Negros Oriental as a response to a spate of killings there.

Gunmen have targeted civilians in Negros Oriental, killing at least 14 people already since last July 23, when lawyer Anthony Trinidad was shot dead in Guihulngan City./TSB