No sacrificing civil rights

The declaration of a state of lawlessness by the national government in light of last Friday evening’s bombing in Davao City should hopefully lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and be lifted once the threat passes.

There were concerns raised that the incident would lead to the dreaded declaration of martial law, something which President Rodrigo Duterte managed to foist on the public during his temper tantrum with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serreno.

But the night market bombing is another thing and the President, fully aware of the weight of any proclamation he makes on the public’s welfare and security, chose instead to declare a state of lawlessness which allows the military and police to employ resources to arrest the perpetrators “and suppress lawless violence” without sacrificing the civil rights of the Filipinos.

These are legal precedents for the President to make pronouncements that would mobilize military deployment and intensify police operations without encumbering the movement of Filipinos and disrupting their way of life.

The Arroyo administration had issued a state of emergency not only during terrorist attacks but also during coup plots in which its very survival depended on mobilizing the military without compromising civil rights.

So while the senators voiced concern over the President’s declaration there were no vocal outbursts but statements urging the military and the police to hunt down and bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III was right when he said it wouldn’t hurt for the Duterte administration to take pains to explain the state of lawlessness proclamation to the public if only to settle their fears while local governments like Mandaue City Hall enforce a curfew.

One realizes that a curfew, while restricting movement, is in effect only during the late hours of the day when criminal activities are most likely to occur and won’t infringe on those working the graveyard shift.

Cebu City Hall is already enforcing a curfew along with the Lapu-Lapu City government and so far there had been no major complaints. Cebu City in particular has their night high school and students have already been reminded about wearing their ID cards in order to be exempted from the curfew.

And since there is already a nationwide curfew order issued by the President to reduce the incidents of drunken behavior and drug addiction among the youth and adults, there is very little to complain about from the citizenry except, of course, from those who love to stay out late and the commercial establishments that rely on these night owls for their income.

While a state of lawlessness is in effect, the bombing should not be reason for the Filipinos to cower in their homes but neither should it be ignored. The Duterte administration should take every precaution not to restrict Filipinos while it ensures their safety.