REUTERS/Lean Daval Jr/File PhotoPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday “plenty will be killed” before the end of his campaign against illegal drugs that has led to the death of about 2,400 people since he became president two months ago.
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He thus said that the proclamation of a national emergency on account of lawlessness would remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by him.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who served as Davao Mayor for 22 years, on Saturday declared a “state of lawlessness” across the country, although he reassured the public that this did not constitute a declaration of martial law.
Medialdea is serving a chief government caretaker in Duterte’s absence.
Ablan said the declaration commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to undertake measures permitted by the Constitution and laws to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and prevent lawless violence from spreading elsewhere across the country.
This was because they did not act on information received prior to the Roxas Night Market bombing.
“I am sorry for what happened, but we welcome everybody who wants to visit Davao City”.
TIGHT SECURITY Security forces are scattered all over Davao City as the threat of another terrorist attack remains high following the September 2 blast that left 14 people dead.
Police chief of Davao City Michael Dubria told a press conference last weekend that police investigators are hunting for three or four involved persons who were reportedly seen by witnesses in the area before the blast.
Since Duterte took office just over two months ago, the government said more than 2,400 people have been killed in his anti-crime crusade, an increasingly controversial campaign that has drawn United Nations condemnation. He also said there is no timeline for its implementation.
While many believe that Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf was behind the bombing, one of its spokesman said that it had been the work of one of its allies.
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The PNP chief also said they were still looking at the possibility that drug syndicates paid terrorists to bomb Davao City, amid the Duterte administration’s bloody war against drugs.
