Duterte says no martial law as police, military mobilized to enforce Metro Manila lockdown

March 15 ------ There is no martial law declaration even as the military and police have been mobilized to enforce the lockdown of Metro Manila to contain the new coronavirus outbreak, President Duterte declared Thursday night. As the government raised the highest alert level over the coronavirus, the President said government security forces would be called upon for the “effective and orderly implementation” of the measures to curb the spread of the disease.

“Hindi ito martial law (This is not martial law). It is not a martial law. It’s not even something extraordinary. What is sought to be solved here is again, walang iba except (it’s nothing except) to fight the virus and to exact compliance,” he said in his public address at Malacañang. The President appealed for public cooperation to follow the government’s implementation of stringent social distancing measures in Metro Manila for the next 30 days over the coronavirus situation. He urged the public to comply with these measures, such as the ban on mass gatherings, to avoid getting into trouble with the law.

“I do not want anybody interfering in your enjoyment as a citizen of this Republic. Ayaw ko na masita kayo ng pulis pati military (I dont want the police and military to accost you). It could be messy. Kasi mga — ‘yung iba sa inyo suplado. And itong mga pulis pati military (Some of you are haughty and the police and military) they have their orders to enforce,” he said. Duterte warned that if a person violates the social distancing rules and shows “disobedience,” such an offense would be punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

“Kung makipag-away ka, it becomes — baka mag — masuntok mo o ano, then it becomes an assault on an agent of a person in authority. In which case, from a simple violation of a rule, it will now ripen into a crime that is punishable by law and you can go to prison. That’s the problem,” he said. He explained that the government is enforcing the strict precautions for the public’s own safety and health. “If you are advised, just obey. Wala namang mawala sa inyo tutal sa inyo ‘yan eh (You won’t lose anything anyway). It’s for your own good. Hindi man ito para sa amin (This is not for us). Ako, I hate it. But you have to do it because there is a crisis that is engulfing the country right now,’ he said.

The President has authorized a community quarantine or lockdown of Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14 as a precaution against the coronavirus spread. The resolution, approved by the President, raised the alert level to Code Red Sublevel 2 and imposed several stringent measures to control the spread of the deadly virus. Among the measures are the suspension of domestic land, air, and sea travel to and from Metro Manila, extension of class suspension, and work suspension in the executive department.

“Community quarantine is hereby imposed in the [entirety] of Metro Manila and in other — in other areas the LGUs (local government units) are advised to abide by the following guidelines imposing localized community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions,” he said. “For Manila, may ‘Ayaw naming gamitin ‘yan,’ pero kasi takot kayong sabihing lockdown, but it’s a lockdown. There is no struggle of power here. Walang away dito, walang giyera. It’s just a matter of protecting and defending you from COVID-19.”

Source: mb.com.ph