So it’s now state of nat’l emergency in effect

IT WAS neither a “state of lawlessness” nor a “state of lawless violence” as earlier announced, but a “state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.”

Before flying to Laos, President Duterte on Monday signed the proclamation of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, which calls on the military and the police to suppress and prevent lawless violence, according to Malacañang.

The one-page proclamation does not suspend any of the people’s rights. It took effect on Monday after the signing and remains in force until lifted by the President.

Malacañang has not released the hard copy of the signed resolution, but Assistant Communications Secretary Christian Ablan disclosed its salient points to the media.

The proclamation commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to undertake measures permitted by the Constitution and laws in order to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and to prevent lawless violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere.

The military and the police should perform these tasks “with due regard to fundamental and civil political rights,” Ablan said.

“There is no loss of civil or political liberties so there is no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. There is no declaration of martial law. It’s simply a call to the military and the police to help out,” he told reporters.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the basis of the proclamation was terrorism, citing the escape of prisoners, the beheadings of hostages and the Davao City night market blast on Friday that killed 14 people.

TIGHT SECURITY Security forces are scattered all over Davao City as the threat of another terrorist attack remains high following the Sept. 2 blast that left 14 people dead. JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

“It’s more of terrorism, the fight against terrorism,” Medialdea said in a phone patch interview with reporters.

No time limit

Medialdea also said there was no time limit for the proclamation. “This is not martial law that has a 60-day limitation.”

Ablan noted that while the coverage of the proclamation was countrywide, there were levels.

Security forces would stop or “suppress” lawless violence in Mindanao, but for the rest of the country, they would prevent these from taking place, he said.

He also sought to assuage fears that the public may have about the issuance and the expected increased police or military presence on the streets.

“The public should not be worried. This is just a stepped up campaign of the police and the military to ensure the safety of the general public,” Ablan said.

“This is just the government in action,” he added.