MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is not declaring martial law in Negros Oriental despite a spate of killings.
“There will never be a time when I will declare martial law. What I said was that I would take drastic action,” the President said in his speech during the oathtaking of newly elected oficers of the League of Cities of the Philippines and Liga ng mga Barangay at Malacañang yesterday.
”You have a ruckus there in Negros. Ang sinabi kong drastic action was punuin ko ng sundalo like Jolo,” he said.
The President said he need not declare martial law like what he did in Mindanao, where there was obvious rebellion.
”Lagyan mo lang ng tropa dyan, it’s the same... I have one division tapos magpapadala pa ko ng dagdag,” he said.
Duterte said the government would only go after criminals and those who sow disorder.
At his regular press briefing, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said there is no need to declare martial law in Negros Oriental as there is no indication of rebellion.
”Under the Constitution, there should be rebellion. Sa ngayon... unbridled patayan pa lang ang nangyayari,” Panelo said.
He said he asked the President about the issue on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Monday night. “He said you and I are lawyers and we know we cannot just impose martial law unless the requirements are there,” Panelo said.
He also noted that the President could use his emergency powers to quell violence by calling on the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
PNP doing its best
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said the police is doing its best to maintain peace and order in Negros Oriental so that the President need not resort to “drastic” action to address the killings.
Albayalde said the situation in the province is under control after the police and military intensified security measures amid the killings.
At least 21 people wereshot dead from July 18 to 28 alone. Among the victims were a city councilor, a former municipal mayor, four police officers, a village chief and a lawyer.
Albayalde said the President still has the option to implement measures he believes are necessary if the situation in Negros Oriental gets out of hand.
“I am not saying na walang reason ang ating Presidente. He has his reasons that’s why nasabi nya yun,” he said.
“We do everything para hindi na humantong sa ganun,” Albayalde added.
The PNP chief said the situation in Negros Oriental remains normal and residents still go out at night.