Roxas: Letter request for Tacloban curfew

President Benigno S.Aquino III assisted by DILG, Secretary Mar Roxas inspect the Public Market in Palo Leyte. Photo by MARCELINO PASCUA

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday debunked Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez’s claim that the letter he was asking him to write could be a “form of resignation”.

In a statement, Roxas said that there was no discussion of any takeover of the mayoralty in Tacloban and that the letter that Romualdez was asked to write was a request to President Benigno Aquino III to impose curfew in the city to restore law and order following the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the city.

Roxas said that from day one, Romualdez and the local leaders asked for an imposition of curfew, which requires a local ordinance, in order to restore law and order against the reported widespread looting.

“On day two after Yolanda’s exit, they asked the same from the President and got the same reply that an ordinance was needed. Nonetheless at their pleading, the PNP [Philippine National Police] imposed a curfew on their representation that they will pass the said ordinance,” Roxas said.

“After four days of inability to pass the ordinance because the local council cannnot constitute a quorum, I asked them to write a letter so that the President has a basis for ordering said curfew,” he added.

Roxas said the primary topic discussed during the meeting with Romualdez and the local officials at the Tacloban City Hall was the imposition of curfew and a local businessman’s call for the imposition of local ‘martial law.’

“There was no talk of a takeover by the DILG or national government over Tacloban City Hall. This is absolute nonsense and there was a roomful of people in the command center at the city who can attest to this,” he said, noting that he has at least 10 witnesses who can prove his claim.

He said there were laws that address ineffectiveness of a local government unit.

“However, if the LGUs are crippled because they themselves are victims, then we need to act,” Roxas said.

“We bent over backwards to be sensitive and courteous and this is the response we get?” he added.

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