Duterte eyes martial law in Negros ‘soon’

MANILA, Philippines — Reiterating that President Duterte is considering exercising his emergency powers amid the spate of killings in Negros Oriental, Malacañang yesterday said martial law might ”soon” be declared in the province.

“It appears to be soon. He mentioned it in his speech at the anniversary of NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said when asked when the President is expected to issue a declaration.

In a speech last night, Duterte said he could no longer stand the killings.

“I am about to do something drastic,” he said at the 20th anniversary of the Bureau of Fire Protection. “It will not sit well with everybody, maybe including you. But it is needed.”

He did not elaborate on the “drastic” measure but stressed that he did not aspire to become a dictator: “Sabi ko sa inyo, wala akong ambisyon mag-diktador. On the day that I won’t step down from Malacañang, shoot me dead.”

Panelo said the killings in Negros Oriental have worsened, noting that a barangay chairman, a former mayor, four police officers and a lawyer were among the victims.

“The President doesn’t want this to happen. He wants it stopped and the only way to do that is to use his emergency powers,” he said.

Panelo said the President would wait for the recommendation of local officials and security forces on the ground before declaring martial law.

Reward up to P5 M

As this developed, the President raised the bounty for information leading to the arrest of the killers of the four police officers from P3 million to P5 million.

  Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde allayed fears that raising the bounty would lead to more violence. Instead of blaming the government, he said militant groups should help authorities arrest the killers.

Albayalde said people who have done nothing wrong need not worry about the possible declaration of martial law.

“What the government forces want in the area is peace and order to prevail, nothing else,” Albayalde said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has filed resolutions seeking a congressional inquiry into the killings, which he linked to the government’s campaign against communist rebels.

Zarate warned that the killings, if not addressed, could pave the way to the declaration of martial law nationwide.

He said the killings are not only prevalent in Negros Oriental but also in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, which were identified in the President’s Memorandum Order 32 as areas where the government’s campaign against communist insurgency would be institutionalized.

“There were 87 people killed in Negros since last year and 63 in Bicol. In Eastern Visayas, the killings have started. This state of lawless violence is just one step away from nationwide martial law declaration,” he said. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Edu Punay, Rhodina Villanueva