No nationwide martial law amid anti-tambay drive, Palace assures

FILE: “May martial law po sa Mindanao. So hindi na kailangang mag-prelude to martial law ang—sa Mindanao iyan ‘no (There’s martial law in Mindanao. So there’s no need to prelude to martial law — that’s in Mindanao),” Roque said. (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday allayed fears that the anti-tambay (bystander) drive of the Philippine National Police (PNP) would be a prelude to nationwide martial law noting that President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier said that it was not an option.

Roque said that martial law is currently imposed in Mindanao and that there was no need to expand its coverage to Luzon and Visayas.

“May martial law po sa Mindanao. So hindi na kailangang mag-prelude to martial law ang—sa Mindanao iyan ‘no (There’s martial law in Mindanao. So there’s no need to prelude to martial law — that’s in Mindanao),” Roque said.

Roque reiterated that Duterte himself said that it would be “complicated” to declare martial law in the entire Philippines.

“Malinaw po ang sinabi na ng Presidente (What the President said was clear), ‘Martial law in the entire Philippines will become very complicated,’” Roque said.

“He has absolutely no intentions right now unless there would be reasons to do so. Wala naman pong nakikita si Presidente sa ngayon(The President doesn’t see any reason at the moment),” he added.

Roque, meanwhile, stressed that police officers will only apprehend or arrest bystanders when they have legal basis to do so.

“Ang mga ina-accost naman diyan ay iyong mga lumalabag ng mga ordinansa ‘no at saka iyong mga alam ng mga pulis na posibleng mayroong mga nilalabag na mga batas ‘no – iyong mga umiinom sa kalye, iyong mga nagsusugal sa kalye, iyong mga ganoon ‘no (Those who will be accosted are those that violate the ordinances and those who drink in the streets, those who gamble in the streets),” Roque said.

He also said that there were legal remedies available for those arrested without basis such as the writ of amparo which can be filed when “any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.

Roque earlier described the PNP’s new anti-crime strategy as part of its efforts to ensure that the public feel safer through “police visibility.”

“Importante rin na bantayan ang mga tambay para maiwasan din ang paggawa ng krimen (It’s important to keep a close watch on the bystanders to prevent crime). So, in other words, it’s really police visibility and trying to take steps to ensure that the public knows that the police are present,” Roque said.

“If they are engaged in any conspiracy to commit crimes, nandiyan po ang ating kapulisan (our police are there). That’s really crime prevention through police visibility,” he added.