Davao City declared in lockdown
DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao for 60 days, although this has yet to be formalized in a proclamation, as a result of the Marawi incident involving members of an Islamic State-affiliated terrorist group. As a consequence, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has declared a lockdown in Davao City for security purposes.
The President, who is supposed to be on a five-day trip to Russia beginning Monday, cut short his visit and returned to the Philippines, arriving in Manila late Wednesday afternoon.
Ms. Duterte-Carpio immediately met with Task Force Davao Chief Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Chief Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum to discuss the city’s security.
“We discussed the lockdown of Davao City and we advi(s)e residents to stay at home if they do not have important business outside. We also advi(s) e visitors to refrain from traveling to the city to avoid the hassle of stringent security measures,” she said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Ms. Duterte-Carpio noted that Davao City, being the hometown of the President and the “rallying point” of Mindanao, would be a target for terrorists if they want to “make a statement.”
The mayor said authorities will conduct a more extensive search of all vehicles and personalities. She advised both locals and visitors to be prudent in planning their activities and to refrain from traveling not only in Davao but also in other areas in Mindanao as the whole island is covered by martial law.
“I have advised the police and military that once they have received the presidential proclamation they can pick up people who they suspect as sympathetic [to] the Maute, Abu Sayyaf, ISIS and all identified terrorist groups,” she said.
Several personalities identified with the Maute group have been detained in the city, Ms. Duterte-Carpio also disclosed. The city had sought their transfer to a Manila jail and she said they will follow up on this.
“I think the (declaration of martial law) is appropriate during this time in view of the rebellion and terrorism,” she said. She confirmed that the President called her up prior to his declaring martial law.
But she also qualified the lack of the presidential proclamation and directive on martial law.
While authorities have yet to discuss the imposition of a curfew in the city, Ms. Duterte-Carpio said it is a given that under martial law, there will be warrantless arrests, curfew, monitoring of people’s activities and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (applicable only to those judicially charged with rebellion). She said the city has been on red alert even before the Marawi incident. At the same time, she assured the public that rights will not be violated, saying: “Our PNP and AFP personnel understand that there is a need to be respectful sa lahat ng mga tao (to everyone) unless proven otherwise that you are a criminal or a terrorist.”