Palace issues proclamation of state of national emergency
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has issued Proclamation 55 which declares a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the proclamation order before flying to Laos late Monday afternoon for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
The proclamation comes a few days after a bombing incident at a night market in Davao City which left at least 14 people killed and 67 others wounded.
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Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution states that the president, as commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the country, may call out the armed forces whenever necessary to prevent or suppress lawless violence.
Duterte commanded the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to undertake measures to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and to prevent it from spreading across the Philippines.
"This proclamation of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President," the proclamation read.
The proclamation cited that there has been a spate of violence and lawless acts across Mindanao including abductions, hostage-takings and murder of civilians, bombing of power transmission facilities, attacks on military outposts and others.
Efforts of the military and the police to stop the armed lawlessness in the region resulted in several casualties on government forces, the proclamation read.
"Based on government intelligence reports, there exist credible threats of further terror attacks and other similar acts of violence by lawless elements in other parts of the country, including metropolitan areas," Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in the proclamation.
Medialdea earlier said that the proclamation has no limit under the Constitution, contrary to martial law which has a 60-day limit.
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