No martial law option, but public order is a must, says govt

MANILA, Philippines — While martial law is currently out of the equation, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease underscored the need for public order as the government tackles issues and concerns surrounding the  coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) crisis in the country.

“Is martial law an option? Hindi natin pinaguusapan ang martial law. Hindi yan pinaguusapan ngayon,” IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday in a virtual briefing.

(Is martial law an option? We are not discussing martial law.  We are not discussing that now.)

The President may only declare martial law in case of invasion and rebellion when the public safety requires it, according to the 1987 Constitution.

What President Rodrigo Duterte wants is to maintain order amid the health emergency the country is facing, Nograles stressed.

“In a state of calamity, there has to be order. Importante para kay Pangulong Duterte that we maintain order especially in this time of crisis and in this state of calamity. Yun lang naman ang point ni Pangulo dyan,” he said.

(In a state of calamity, there has to be order. This is important to the President that we maintain order especially in this time of crisis and in this state of calamity. That’s the point of the President.)

Duterte, in a televised address Wednesday night, warned militant groups not to challenge the government during the COVID-19 crisis, saying he would not hesitate to have them shot.

The President issued the warning after a group of irate protesters who demanded for food and assistance were arrested following a demonstration in Quezon City.

“Hindi po pwede at hindi po papayag ang gobyerno na may manggugulo po at magtetake advantage sa situation na ito. Habang nangangamba ang buhay at kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan ay guguluhin pa ang sitwasyon,” Nograles said.

(The government will not allow anyone to take advantage of the situation, especially when there is a threat to the lives, health and safety of our people.)

The President placed the entire Luzon under enhnced community quarantine, forcing the closure most establishments and halting public transportation to restrict the public’s movement.

Halfway into the strict quarantine measure which is expected to be lifted by midnight of April 13, health officials have confirmed 2,311 cases of COVID-19 and a death toll of 96.

GSG