The deployment of troops to some parts of the Philippines is not a prelude to a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus or martial law, the Palace said Monday.
Reacting to speculation by the administration’s critics, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said troops were sent to reinforce the military and police in Samar, Negros Island and the Bicol region, which have experienced ambushes and destruction of property.
“We repeatedly said if there is any intention [to declare martial law], then it will have been declared, but there is none,” Panelo said.
On Thursday, the Palace released the Memorandum No. 32, which orders troop deployments to prevent “violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country.”
The order also authorized the enhancement of intelligence operations as well as the prompt investigation and prosecution of individuals or groups behind “acts of lawless violence.”
But Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares criticized the memorandum order, saying it could be a “prelude to more repressive measures such as martial law.”
On Monday, Panelo said the order was a “reaction to what iw happening” in those provinces.
“The memorandum precisely and expressly says that we should respect the rights of the individual. Memorandum 32 was done pursuant to the constitutional duty of the President to protect and preserve the people,” he said.
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“There were series of acts committed against civilians, against soldiers and policemen in those areas and therefore there is a need to deploy troops, as well as Philippine National Police [PNP] forces in that area to secure the people,” Panelo said.
Panelo also denied suggestions that the troops could be used against the opposition in the 2019 midterm elections.
He said putting the President’s orders down in writing would provide guidance and transparency.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, said the deployment of two companies of the Special Action Force to the areas specified by MO 32 was not a sign of “creeping martial law.”
“Remember the state has the obligation to protect its citizens from lawlessness. This is part of it. It has nothing to do with martial law,” said Albayalde after the Monday flag ceremony in Camp Crame.
Albayalde said an additional SAF company will be sent to Samar and another to the Bicol region while a SAF standby force intended for deployment to Mindanao will be realigned to Negros Island.
Commission on Human Rights chairman Jose Luis Gascon, on the other hand, slammed the Duterte administration for deploying troops to three provinces in the Visayas and a province in Bicol.
Gascon said the government could already “suppress lawlessness, violence and acts of terror” with existing personnel and resources in those areas.
He also warned that the troop deployments could be a prelude to martial law.
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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, said MO 32 is in effect only in four regions—Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the Bicol region—where the communist New People’s Army rebels were still conducting atrocities against civilians.
Lorenzana also observed in a radio interview Monday that the President has publicly stated he will never order martial law nationwide.
“This Memorandum Order 32 is focused on areas where communist terrorists thrive, specifically in Bicol, Samar and Negros [Oriental and Occidental]. They continue to burn construction equipment and extort money from businessmen,” he said in Filipino.
Lorenzana said the troop deployments would also ensure fair and honest elections.
“We received complaints that the NPA is interfering with the elections in these areas,” he said, noting that candidates who do not pay the rebels will be unable to enter certain areas.
Lawmakers on Monday said they are convinced the deployment of additional soldiers and police in Bicol region and some provinces in the Visayas is not a prelude to martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire country.
Reps. Raneo Abu of Batangas, Rolando Andaya, Jr. of Camarines Sur and Edgar Mary Sarmiento of Samar said the President’s Memorandum Order 32 on the deployment of troops in the provinces was intended merely to stop lawless violence and acts of terror.
“I fully support the initiative of the administration in deploying additional troops to curb lawless violence in some parts of the country. During times like these, we must remain vigilant against those who threaten our peace, for violence has no place in a democratic society such as ours,” Abu, a deputy speaker, said.
Andaya, the House majority leader, also backed the President’s MO 32.
“I support the order of the President as I believe that it was based on verified information which came into his possession which for security reasons cannot be declassified.”
At the same time, Andaya asked the leaders of the implementing agencies to respect civil and political rights and explain the breadth and limits of their powers and actions to the public, in a language easily understood.
“This is to avoid conflict, misinformation, [and] misperception,” Andaya said. “Both the public and the police and the military should be mindful of the clear language of Section 4 of the order that civil or political rights are not suspended and all the constitutional rights of every individual shall be respected,” he said.
Sarmiento said President Duterte’s order to deploy more security forces in his province is an answered prayer for Samareños, who are constantly terrorized by private armed groups during the election season.
“Samar is a constant hotbed of political assassinations and harassment during election season. Many of these armed goons employed by some politicians are mostly criminals involved in other illegal activities and communist rebels involved in extortion,” Sarmiento said.
“This move to deploy more troops in Samar in other areas deemed as election hotspots is definitely a welcome relief for most people of Samar. It is an answered prayer for us,” Sarmiento added. With Rio N. Araja and PNA
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