No ”pressing need” to place country under martial law due to coronavirus: PNP

May 5, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said there is no “pressing need” to place the country under martial law due to the present emergency situation caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“There is no imminent threat from rebellion or invasion as of yet to justify the declaration of martial law,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a statement.

“Nonetheless, the PNP leaves this matter to the better judgment of the national leadership if it so finds it necessary,” he added.

In such case, Banac said the PNP shall be ready to abide by and implement the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He issued his statement after Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Duterte could declare martial law due to the pandemic crisis.

Under the 1987 Constitution, a president can only declare martial law in case of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.

“It can mean the entry of a disease and the transfer from one area to another,” Panelo said in a commentary program aired over state-run PTV4.

“There is an actual invasion of the coronavirus disease, which is (a) pandemic. It threatens, in fact, the entire country,” he added.

According to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, invasion in the context of martial law refer to “armed actions by human beings, not by non-living things like viruses”. Ella Dionisio/DMS