Not military takeover: Lacson thinks Duterte just wants strict discipline under ECQ

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was only emphasizing discipline during the enhanced community quarantine when he warned that military and police will take over the enforcement of lockdown measures due to increasing quarantine violators, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.

“Hindi (military takeover). Ang remark na ginawa ni PRRD, to emphasize ang disiplina. Kasi di naman ito sinabi niyang martial law tayo,” Lacson said over DWIZ when asked about Duterte’s remark on imposing martial law-style lockdown measures.

(It’s not a military takeover. Duterte’s remark was to emphasize discipline. This does not mean martial law.)

“Yan din sinasabi natin kasi hanggang ngayon steady pa ang climb. Hindi pa tayo maka-imagine na magfa-flatten ang curve. Walang-wala pa tayo roon kasi unang-una wala pa tayong massive testing,” he said.

(That’s what we’re saying, too, because until now there’s still a steady climb. We still can’t imagine that the curve will flatten. We’re far off it because first of all, we still do not have massive testing.)

In his Thursday night taped public address, the President warned that he will order law enforcers to implement a martial law-style lockdown measures amid reports that many people violate the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) across Luzon.

KGA