“President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proclamation declaring a ‘State of National Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence”, Palace officials have confirmed Monday. As regards this appointment, the head of state made sure that he will not admit sermons on the part of the US President, Barack Obama, on human rights, when they meet.
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However, he clarified that his declaration did not amount to the imposition of martial law in the archipelago, Reuters reported. Lorenzana himself is not certain when it will be released.
“There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence”, said Duterte, who promised to tackle crime, corruption and drug use when he was inaugurated as president back in June.
At least 14 people were killed and more than 80 injured in an explosion that ripped through a popular market in Davao City, Philippines.
Medialdea reiterated that the national emergency did not equate to martial law and no curfew would be imposed.
Duterte-Carpio said the money, which came from the funds of the city government, would be given in exchange for any information leading to the arrest of those behind the blast.
Duterte has described the attack as an act of terrorism, and declared the nation in “a state of lawlessness”, authorizing police and the military to search cars and frisk people at checkpoints.
Duterte tagged on September 3, the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group from the southern Philippines notorious for kidnappings, as a possible suspect in a deadly blast in his home town of Davao.
While Davao itself is safe, it is in the region of Mindanao, a southern island province beset by decades of Muslim militancy.
Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution states that the president, as commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the country, may call out the armed forces whenever necessary to prevent or suppress lawless violence.
“To everyone, we just wanted to let you know that we need your help”, said Mayor Sara Duterte.
His election has prompted a spike in drug-related killings, with more than 2,000 deaths since he took office on 30 June, almost half of them in police operations.
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Police and military are on high alert across the country, and authorities have urged the public to be vigilant in case of further attacks.
