MALACAÑANG on Monday dismissed conspiracy theories about the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to proclaim a state of lawlessness even before the Davao City bombing on Friday night, saying that intelligence reports earlier received had prompted the chief executive to draft such an order.
Speculation about the President’s declaration was sparked by a revelation by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Sunday that he had studied drafts of the order days before the bomb attack.
“Due to the broad intelligence reports submitted to the President…the President may have talked with chief presidential legal counsel Panelo regarding the drafting [of the order],” said Assistant Secretary Christian Ablan, of the Presidential Communications Office, during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“But to insinuate that there was a preparation for a proclamation… that’s just a conspiracy theory. Since he assumed office, the President has been receiving intelligence reports, and maybe that was the source of discussion between chief presidential legal counsel Panelo and the President,” Ablan said.
Ablan also confirmed that the intelligence information had something to do with both drug threats and terroristic attacks.
“I’m not privy to the discussion between the chief presidential legal counsel. I can only say that there have been intelligence reports that certain cities are targeted by terrorists prior to the explosion in Davao and the President may have consulted the chief presidential counsel regarding the matter,” Ablan said.
Earlier, Panelo said the Davao blast was not the trigger for the declaration of a state of lawless violence, and said they had been drafting the proclamation days before the attack.
Duterte signed the proclamation declaring a state of lawless violence over the entire country Monday.
“Before flying off to Laos to attend the Asean Summit, the President signed the proclamation declaring a state of lawless violence. We don’t have the signed document yet because Executive Secretary [Salvador] Medialdea is still en route back to Manila from Davao,” said Ablan.
Ablan said the document proclaimed a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.
It commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to undertake measures permitted by the Constitution and laws to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao; and second, prevent lawless violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere, with due regard to fundamental civil and political rights.
Ablan said the state would remain in force until lifted or withdrawn by the President.
Even with the proclamation, “there is no loss of civil or political liberties, so there is no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and there is no declaration of Martial Law,” Ablan said. He said it is simply a call to the military and the police to help out.
He also said the proclamation is national, so the coverage is countrywide.
Based on Medialdea’s earlier statement, the proclamation targets terrorism and not illegal drugs, Ablan said.
“The President can call out the military anytime within his powers as commander-in-chief by virtue of the Constitution. He could have said it, his order could have remained in effect since Friday, but the proclamation takes effect today [Monday],” Ablan said.
Ablan also said there is no need for the President or executive branch to report to Congress about this.
He said the Constitution is clear that there is only a report if a suspension of the writ is made or if there is a declaration of Martial Law. But that is not the situation today, he said.
Former president and Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday supported Duterte’s decision to declare a state of lawless violence following the deadly attack in Davao City.
At a news conference, Arroyo said she is confident that the President’s declaration would be implemented in accordance with the law and that there will be no abuse of power from authorities.
“President Duterte knows all the lessons, because he was helping me a lot during my time. He was my adviser on peace and order and drugs. He knows my experience, he knows all the lessons,” Arroyo told reporters during a press conference.
Arroyo also described President Duterte as a very firm leader and a “stronger President” than she was.
Another former president, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, called on Filipinos to unite behind Duterte to suppress terrorism and criminality.
“We should unite and rally behind President Duterte in his quest to remove the threat of terrorism in the country,” Estrada said amid concerns raised by some about the state of lawlessness.
“What I can say is, ‘Go Mr. President, do not waver.’ Do not get distracted by what is happening in Davao City,” Estrada said in an interview.
