“I’m just asking for your disiplina. Kasi ’pag ayaw ninyo, ayaw ninyong maniwala, magtake-over ang military pati ang pulis. I’m ordering them now to be ready. Sila na. Parang martial law na rin. Mamili kayo,” President Rodrigo Duterte said during his Apr. 16 address.
[READ: Duterte warns of martial law and calls on hospitals to improvise amid pandemic]
Four days after, on Apr. 20, newly reinstated Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that what the president alluded to was, in fact, an extraordinary power that the president as the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution, can practice at any given time with or without an executive order (Art. VII, Section XVIII).
But the President’s pronouncements have clearly gotten into some peace and order officers’ and lawmakers’ heads, proving that while martial law-like measures may be absurd, military intervention is not far from reality.
PNP enters a private property
On Sunday, Apr. 19, residents of Pacific Plaza Towers in Bonifacio Global City reported that policemen carrying firearms barged into the high-end residential condominium’s gardens, ordering them with a pointed tone to stay indoors, with one officer even allegedly waving a gun.
In an interview with Inquirer, Joseph Castillo, an American resident of the Pacific Plaza Towers said that foreign residents will be filing a complaint against the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their respective diplomatic channels for disrupting the peace in the private property.
The policemen who were seen in the video taken by Castillo roving around the pool area were said to be carrying weapons as they shout orders to residents to stay indoors.
PNP spokesperson Brig. General Bernard Banac told the Inquirer “As a policy, police will never come inside a private property unless invited by the owner or administrator.” The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will also be investigating the incident, Banac said.
According to a report, the management of the condominium threatened the PNP with legal action against its “uniformed, armed and apparently agitated policemen” who “accosted and shouted” at residents.
AFP, PNP to enforce quarantine measures
Meanwhile in Cavite, citing continuous violations of quarantine measures, Governor Jonvic Remulla called out to the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año for help from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday, Apr. 20.
In a Facebook post, Remulla said, “Nakiusap na po ako sa ating Provincial Director na tawagin na ang ating mga kaibigan sa AFP na maghanda mag deploy Ang AFP dito sa Cavite. Ako po ay makikipagugnayan kay Sec. Año na gamitin na ang Philippine Army at Reservist para pairalin ang ECQ sa Cavite.”
He added that he will give an update on his request by tonight, with a disclaimer that it is not his intention to hurt anyone. “Gusto ko lang patuparin ang batas para yung 10 percent ay tumino at ang 90 percent ay maisalba.”
The request comes three days after a memo ordering the for the military’s expanded role during the quarantine leaked on social media on Friday, Apr. 17. AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, who confirmed that it was indeed a directive issued to their ranks, clarified that it was an advanced protocol to prepare their forces should Pres. Duterte find their expanded deployment necessary.
PNP, on the other hand, threatens massive arrests for those who continue to go out of their homes after curfew hours while the Luzon enhanced community quarantine is still in place.
In a radio interview, PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said the National Capital Region police force has already been ordered to find potential detention places for violators. So far, according to their latest bulletin, PNP has apprehended about 133,000 people in relation to quarantine measures.
[READ: LOOK: Curfew violators in Iloilo made to watch COVID-19 documentary as punishment]A quarter of these cases, Gamboa said, has been filed with charges, while over 90,000 were just issued warnings. He added that should the President push through with a martial law-like lockdown, it’s likely that many will be arrested without warning.
“Siguro magpakita dapat ang publiko na mag-behave sila para hindi ito matuloy. Kasi kung ito ay matutuloy, it will really be a full implementation of the law. Wala na tayong warning, diretso na tayo sa aresto,” Gamboa said.
Reports said the President is in talks with experts on the possibility of further extending the enhanced community quarantine. One of the factors being considered is the statistics of COVID-19 patients, which as of writing is now at 6,259 with 409 deaths and 572 recoveries.
Header photo courtesy of Grig Montegrande/Inquirer
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