DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday an indefinite “state of lawless violence” in the country, only hours after a murderous explosion in a popular night market here, killing at least 14 people and injuring 67 others.
Duterte told a news briefing on Saturday, soon after the nation of 102 million people woke up to the pestiferous tragedy, the declaration would involve the increase of military and police presence throughout the country to combat not just terror threats, but also to step up his campaign against illegal drugs and to curb the recent rise in extrajudicial killings.
“There is a crisis in this country, including drugs and extrajudicial killings as they say, and there seems to be an environment of lawlessness. So I just might declare a state of lawless violence in this country,” Duterte said after meeting with security officials.
“Effective today, I am declaring the entire country under a state of lawlessness [while] there is a threat against the country and against the people. Any punitive action that will be taken by the security forces will be to stop terrorism,” he added.
The President said he will not lift the order “until such time that I feel [the situation is already] safe.”
On Friday, an explosion rocked the crowded Roxas night market, across the Ateneo de Davao at 11 p.m., sending ripples of shock to residents and other Filipinos outside the city who heard broadcast reports immediately after.
The casualties were SPO1 Jay Andremesin; Christian Denver Serrano Reyes, 26; Salvador Nagal, 24; Fimia Biscutso, 60; Rogelio Cagantas, 21; Evelyn Sobrecarey, age unknown; Daniel Josh Larida, 12; Melanie Faith Larida, 28; Kristelle Nicolasora Decolongon, 17; Ruth Caburnay Merecedo, 31; Mercy Basilisco, 23; and a still unidentified Mr. X, Ms. Y, and a Person Z.
Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Zimmerman Duterte said Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go informed her early Saturday midnight the blast was apparently “a retaliation of the Abu Sayyaf,” following the increased number of soldiers sent to Sulu to crush the terrorist group.
Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the mayor’s brother, said initial eyewitness reports said there were three people seen wearing uniforms of massage therapists, but initial reports indicated the blast was caused by an LPG explosion around the area.
The younger Duterte also confirmed the authorities received confidential information there were threats to the city two days ago.
“We received confidential information … there are texts claiming that there will be attacks in Davao and General Santos,” the vice mayor said.
Many of those at the blast zone sought refuge at nearby Ateneo de Davao, prompting a school lockdown.
While refusing to categorically identify the Abu Sayyaf Group as responsible, Duterte said the Islamist group had made threats prior to the explosion.
“They gave us the warning. Not only in Jolo, but in other places. We were forewarned, we were ready,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we cannot frisk or order people to stop and search (them) because that could be fascistic. Then that is not a democracy anymore. That is the price of being a democratic state,” he added.
Duterte said that while they already have possible leads on who may have perpetrated the attacks, he said other groups, such as those involved in illegal narcotics trade, may be behind the incident.
“Everybody is a suspect. Of course, ASG made the threat. We will look into that,” he said.
“There will be a reprisal for all of these things. Maybe because of the Sulu incident. At least we know who made the threats.”
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier told the Manila Standard that the government is preparing for any attacks that the Abu Sayyaf might launch in urban centers as ‘diversionary tactics’ but played down the need for emergency powers for the President to quash the terrorist group.
Security forces have since then raised heightened alert status in the National Capital Region, Davao and Cebu, because of raw information that the ASG might start terror attacks.
But on Wednesday night, the Abu Sayyaf warned Duterte and thousands of government troops he sent to hunt them down in Sulu to prepare for a “test of strength” starting Sept. 1.
Lorenzana had ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to place all its commands on high alert Saturday.
Lorenzana said, “I have directed all commands of the Armed Forces to be on high alert especially in urban centers for possible other terroristic act attempts by this group.
“The Eastern Command in Davao City has been directed to assist the PNP in maintaining peace and order in Davao City and in the apprehension of the perpetrators.. They will also aid in gathering intelligence information and in conducting investigations to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident.”
He added, “We are closely monitoring the situation. While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayaff that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks.
“We have predicted this and have warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror.”
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said there are reports of assassination attempts against the President.
Palace officials clarified that Duterte’s ‘state of lawless violence’ covers the entire country and would not mean that the country is placed under Martial Law.
“First, it’s not martial law. Second, it is not a suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. The reason why the President issued state of lawlessness is because there are many things that are needed to be solved immediately,” Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo told government-run radio dzRB.
Panelo stressed four issues—including the drug menace, criminality all over the country, the terror threat in Davao City and the threats made by the Abu Sayyaf—as reasons for declaring the state of lawless violence.
The declaration, he said, is aimed at protecting the country to supress or prevent lawless elements who want to provoke fear.
In a Palace statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella clarified that the President’s declaration of a state of lawlessness is rooted in Article VII Section 18 of the Constitution.
Under Section 18 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.”
Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said the state of lawlessness violence “merely calls out the military or the AFP to do law enforcement operations normally done only by the PNP.”
“It’s precisely just to suppress lawless violence. It is to complement and supplement the capability of the PNP. It does not suspend some rights,” he said.
Abella asked the public to stay calm and urged people to avoid making speculations and avoid posting unfounded information on social media.
“It is best that the populace refrain from reckless speculation and avoid crowded places. There is no cause for alarm but it is wise to be cautious,” Abella said.