The President’s instructions under a State of Lawless Violence

We condemn the bombing at the Davao night market bombing last Friday which killed 14 people and injured more than 70.

We pray for strength for the families of those who died and were injured. We pray for justice for the victims and that includes all of the Filipino people.

Authorities are still investigating who are the perpetrators. Nothing definite yet except that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

There are as many speculations as there are spokesmen. Early reports said the terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf, had claimed responsibility only to be denied later.

The military is on the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf after 15 soldiers were killed in an encounter in Sulu following beheadings by the group of their captives. The ASG is reportedly linked with the dreaded Middle East-based Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Press Secretary Martin Andanar raised the possibility of the involvement of drug lords, who could be feeling the heat of Duterte’s intensified anti-illegal drug campaign.

“It’s either a reprisal of the terrorists from Jolo, Sulu due to the government’s operations, and the war against terrorism there. The second possibility could be the reprisal of the drug lords,” he said.

Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, the Southern Mindanao police director, said they are not ruling out the involvement of “disgruntled vendors” in the night market.

Immediately, President Duterte has declared a state of lawless violence nationwide.

The declaration is anchored on the Constitution’s Article VII Section 18 provision which states, “The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law…”

The President said it is not martial law nor is he suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

In his early Saturday press conference, he asked everybody to stay calm.

He said there will be higher military and police visibility and checkpoints will be set up. He has authorized searches by security forces.

Here’s what you should do when you approach a checkpoint, the President said:

“Maghinto kayo sa mga checkpoints. If you see a sign there that there are soldiers flashing their lights, turn off your headlight, switch on to your lights inside your cars, because I am authorizing them to search. So, if you do not have anything to hide, I am suggesting that you be liberal enough to understand us, because they are trying to cope up with a crisis now. “

The checkpoint in Las Pinas yielded a prime catch early morning yesterday.

An AUV (Asian Utility Vehicle) accelerated though the checkpoint set up the corner of Real Street and Naga Street. When the police gave chase they were fired upon by the men in the vehicle.

News reports said “The gunmen were finally stopped and killed at the Barangay Pulang Lupa Uno-section of the C5 Extension. “
Inside the vehicle were guns and packets of shabu and a dead body whose face and hands were wrapped in packaging tape. There was also a ready-made sign identifying the dead as a drug dealer.

Here’s another advice from the President: “You can go anywhere, but be sure, if you are—if the hairs on your nape stand up, there’s something that’s afoot, then maybe just get out as soon as possible.”

Be alert. Be vigilant. And pray.