Mayor Duterte acts promptly on martial law declaration
DAVAO CITY — Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was among the first to learn that her father President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had declared martial law in Mindanao from Moscow, Russia where he was on an official visit.
At 1 a.m. Wednesday, or just minutes after Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella announced during a press conference that President Duterte had ordered the imposition of martial rule, the City Mayor’s office here was quick to call its own media conference at the city’s Public Safety and Security Command Center with Carpio calling for “prudence” among Davao residents, suggesting that residents avoid non-essential travel until further notice.
Carpio announced that military and police checkpoints will be more thorough in checking vehicles coming into the city via main entry points here.
She also warned that Davao City remains a “vital area” for the Maute group, which has ties with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
She said security forces will be cordoning off the threat from both inside and outside the city through a “lockdown,” but will not prevent travel.
There are currently five Maute group members being held at the Davao City jail for their alleged involvement in the night market blast along Roxas Ave. last year.
Emerging from a security meeting with Carpio, Davao City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum assured there would be security measures that will be employed to protect citizens from human rights abuses during the imposition of martial law.
He added that the city’s police force have been instructed to conduct round the clock checkpoints in strategic areas where frequent travel to and from this city is conducted from places like Cotabato, Agusan, and Bukidnon.
Coastal areas are also being monitored, while the Task Force Davao has also been reinforced by police and more military units.
“All our actions will be for the welfare of our people particularly Davao City residents,” Tagum said.