Netizens divided on Gordon proposal to suspend habeas corpus

#INQPoll: @DickGordonDG wants to give @RRD_Davao power to suspend writ of habeas corpus https://t.co/YdYJM7ViHO

— Inquirerdotnet (@inquirerdotnet) September 8, 2016

Netizens were divided on the proposal of Sen. Richard Gordon to grant President Rodrigo Duterte authority to suspend the writ of habeas corpus (“show the body”) as a boost to the government’s war on drugs and terrorism, according to online surveys conducted by INQUIRER.net.

Seventy-three percent of respondents said they disagree with Gordon’s proposal, while 27 percent said they agree.

The Twitter poll had a total of 1,100 votes.

The poll on INQUIRER.net’s Facebook page, meanwhile, showed different results—69 percent said they agree with Gordon’s proposal, while 31 percent disagreed.

Screen grab from Facebook

Gordon said he would file a bill next week for his proposal, which came after Duterte’s declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in the wake of the deadly bombing in Davao City last week. The senator said the President’s proclamation would not be sufficient to address the problem of terrorism and illegal drugs in the country.

Suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus would pave the way for warrantless arrests and detention even without formal charges, reminiscent of the Philippines’ martial law experience under Ferdinand Marcos.

Duterte’s proclamation also raised fears of a shift to martial rule, but Malacañang said it would simply empower the President to order the military to support the police in law enforcement duties. YG/JE/rga