Duterte won’t declare nationwide martial law, says top aide
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has no plans to declare martial law nationwide, his top aide assured the public, amid fears of a possible spillover from the Basilan attack that killed at least 11 people.
In a media interview, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he did not think that Duterte would use the incident to justify a nationwide proclamation.
“Hindi ba ang Mindanao ngayon (Isn’t Mindanao now) still under martial law until the end of the year? So, wala naman sigurong dapat palawigin (there’s no need to expand its coverage to the whole country),” Go said.
But Go said Duterte would meet top security officials on Tuesday next week for a command conference to discuss the incident, which the President found as “concerning.”
“Of course, concerned ang ating Pangulo sa nangyari (Of course, our President was concerned about the incident)… Magkakaroon po ng command conference ang ating Pangulo sa Tuesday at I’m sure isa po ito sa magiging pag-uusapan doon (The President will preside over a command conference on Tuesday and I’m sure this will be discussed there),” Go said.
“In fact, kahapon after he learned about it, he planned to go to Lamitan pero yung mga killed, mga naging biktima, are all Muslims so inilibing na agad (In fact, yesterday, after he learned about it, he planned to go to Lamitan but the victims are all Muslims so they were immediately buried),” he added.
Meanwhile, Go assured the families of the victims that they would be given assistance by the government. CATHERINE VALENTE
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