Nothing is final yet on President Duterte’s warning to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to effectively combat the illegal drug menace and rebellion in Mindanao.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the President has become “so worried” about the drug problem, but the option to exercise his executive power to suspend the writ was still “just an idea.”

“The suspension of writ of habeas corpus has not yet been announced. It is just an idea,” Andanar said over government radio when asked about safeguards to prevent abuse in the event the legal recourse against arbitrary arrest and detention would be suspended.

“His mention of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, I believe, that this is pertaining to our problem, to our problem in the illegal drugs here in the country,” he added.

President Duterte earlier threatened to lift the writ of habeas corpus if lawlessness would continue to spread in the country. He issued the warning after citing the rebellion waged by the Maute terror group in Mindanao and the widespread illegal drug activities in the country.

The former Davao City mayor said he was willing to carry out the drastic measure, and even go to jail to ensure the campaign against lawless violence would be successful.

Andanar said the President has conceded that the anti-drug campaign would not be easy to contain, and that he could not solve the problem alone, especially given the involvement of many government officials in the illegal drug operations.

“The problem on illegal drugs has really become severe and widespread. The thick papers shown by the president included persons of interest linked to illegal drugs,” he said.

“The President is so worried already that’s why he has asked for the help of everybody several times because he cannot solve it on his own,” he added.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Duterte’s pronouncement had “a chilling déjà vu” effect.

” Alarming shades of martial law are in the offing with President Duterte’s inclination of suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to reportedly ‘strengthen’ the campaign against the drug menace and suppress the so-called ‘rebellion’ in Mindanao,” said Lagman.

Tags: illegal drug, Manila Bulletin, Martin Andanar, mb.com.ph, Mindanao, News today, Philippine news, President Duterte, rebellion, Suspension of writ of habeas corpus ‘just an idea’ Palace

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling and Ellson A. Quismorio

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