DAVAO CITY, Philippines-President Rodrigo Duterte will enforce the full might of the government as response to the deadly blast here with him declaring a state of lawlessness in the country on Saturday dawn.
“I have this duty to protect this country. So I am declaring now a state of lawlessness,” Duterte said.
Duterte granted an interview with the press at the blast site where at least 14 were killed and 69 others were hurt on Friday evening. But Duterte quickly explained that this is not a declaration of martial law . “This is not martial law. This is not about the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” Duterte asserted.
The declaration of state of lawlessness would however give more power to state security forces to go after threat groups in the country. There will be more checkpoints and security searches on vehicles.
Reuters, AFP
Duterte said any punitive actions conducted by security forces would be for the furtherance of the government’s campaign to end terrorism. “They can do what they really need to do until such time that I can say it is safe,” Duterte said.
The President said the authorities are looking at several angles behind the blast including the threat of Abu Sayyaf.
The government is presently on the peak of its campaign against the militant group with thousands of military forces now operating in Sulu. Earlier, the ASG responded that it will match the government’s operations and will launch a retaliatory action to “test Duterte’s soldiers.”
Duterte, however, did not discount the possibility of the involvement of drug syndicates in the attack following his massive crackdown on the illegal drug trade.
