PNP assures public: No warrantless arrests

No warrantless arrests.

This is the assurance of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa amid the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte of a “state of lawlessness.”

“Ay hindi po, hindi po. Wala pa po tayo sa martial law, so hindi po pu-puwede yang warrantless arrest,” Dela Rosa told reporters in a televised press briefing on Saturday.

Duterte declared a state of lawlessness on Saturday following the deadly explosion in his hometown Davao City, which killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more.

The police chief said the public should expect more police presence in public areas following the declaration.

“So far, ang ma-e-expect po ng taong bayan is more police presence in the streets and in crowded areas and also, we can call in the military for help anytime,” he said.

“Ipaparamdam natin yung counter-action or pre-emptive actions na gagawin ng ating kapulisan para ma-suppress yung state of lawless violence,” he added.

The Department of National Defense said the bandit group Abu Sayyaf may be behind the explosion.

“While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks,” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The Abu Sayyaf Group earlier denied it was behind the explosion.

Spokesperson Muammar Askali alias Abu Ramie pointed to an ASG ally as being behind the deadly blast.

“They are doing this to sympathize (with) our group and we are sending a message to President Rodrigo Duterte that all the Daulat throughout the country is not afraid of him,” Askali said.

The Davao City blast came days after Duterte ordered state forces to finish the Abu Sayyaf.

“Kill them, destroy them,” the President said.

He said the government had all the resources to annihilate the Abu Sayyaf.