Imposition of martial law as an option amid COVID-19 crisis not discussed, Nograles says

April 2, 2020

The imposition of martial law amid the coronavirus disease pandemic was not discussed in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, an official said on Thursday.

The concern about martial law declaration was raised during the virtual press briefing of IATF spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles after President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Wednesday night the leftist groups that he would order the military and the police to shoot them if they would instigate again a rally, which they allegedly did among some Quezon City residents.

"We're not talking about martial law," Nograles said, but he said the alleged instigation of left-leaning Kadamay to some residents of Quezon City to hold a rally on Wednesday was discussed during the President's meeting with the Cabinet cluster on security.

Some Quezon City residents held a rally after the local government allegedly failed to provide them relief assistance. A violent confrontation between them and the policemen ensued. Some of them were arrested.

Due to the incident, Duterte, in a public address, said the next time that there would be similar demonstration and the protesters would place the lives of the law enforcers in danger, he would order that they be shot dead or arrested and detained. The detainees would only be released after the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Further pressed how far Duterte would ensure peace and order amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other parts of the country to contain the virus, Nograles said, "Obviously, in a state of calamity, there has to be order."

He said it is important for the President to maintain order especially in this time of crisis.

"The government will not allow anyone to sow chaos and take advantage of the situation while we are worried on the lives and health and safety of our countrymen," Nograles explained.

Duterte has tapped the military and policemen to man the checkpoints to ensure that the ECQ, which restricts the movement of the people, is fully followed to further prevent the spread of COVID-19. Celerina Monte/DMS