MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the deployment of additional policemen and soldiers to Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, the Bicol region, and Samar. “The additional forces aim to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror in those areas,” read Memorandum Order 32 he signed on Thursday but released publicly yesterday.
A number of sporadic acts of violence occurred recently in the four areas and they appeared to have been committed by lawless groups, according to the President.
“The soldiers and cops are directed to prevent such violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country,” read part of the memorandum order issued to the Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government.
In Negros Occidental, among the reported violent incidents was the massacre of nine sugarcane farmers in Sagay City. President Duterte believed it was carried out by the New People’s Army.
The same memorandum also reinforced the Palace’s guidelines for the implementation of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, which was first issued in 2016 in Davao City.
The guidelines included when there would be heightened visibility of the police and military in critical public areas, when do warrantless arrests may be made, and what law enforcement authorities are allowed to do at checkpoints and stop-and-frisk situations.
“The reinforcement of these guidelines is needed in order to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property and bring the whole country back to a state of complete normalcy as quickly as possible,” read part of the memorandum order.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the order aimed to provide needed “support” for local government units.
“If the civilian government cannot handle it, then there’s a need for support. And even if they can handle it, there’s a need for support coming from the PNP (Philippine National Police). That’s exactly the job of the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) – to suppress lawless violence,” Panelo said in a television interview.
Another Negros Occidental violent incident he cited was the attack against the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion while government troops were conducting clearing and combat operations in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Kabankalan City in May.
“We have also witnessed acts of lawlessness in the province of Negros Oriental such as, but not limited to, torching of heavy equipment in Manjuyod, strafing of the house of the barangay chairman, attack of police detachments, and the killing of a police chief in separate occasions in Guihulngan,” Panelo said.
To ensure the effective implementation of the President’s order, all local government units have been enjoined to give their full support.
Armed Forces and police personnel have been directed to ensure that constitutional rights of every individual shall be respected “at all times.”
“Any Armed Forces of the Philippines or Philippine National Police personnel found violating any of the foregoing rights shall be held administratively, civilly or criminally liable therefor,” the memorandum order read./PN
