[Trending Now] PH under 'State of Lawless Violence' as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte. READ HERE!

Due to the recent bombing which happened in Davao City, which killed 14 people and injured 67 others, the President announced that he might be declaring a State of Lawless Violence. According to him, this would include the alleged vigilante killings and would hence step out the campaign.

"These are extraordinary times. We are trying to cope up with a crisis now. There seems to be an environment of lawlessness. I just might declare a state of lawless violence in this country," he stated after meeting with security officials.

"It's not martial law but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications," he said saying that he will not be suspending the writ of habeas corpus. 

This is legal according to Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution stating: "The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion."

"Maghinto kayo sa mga checkpoints. If you see a sign and  there are soldiers flashing their lights, switch off your headlights, switch on the light inside your cars because I'm authorizing them to search," Duterte said.

"So if you do not have anything to hide, I am suggesting that you be liberal enough to understand us because we are trying to cope up with a crisis now," he said.

Meanwhile, Duterte revealed that they have received warnings from the Abu Sayyaff and stated:

"They gave us the warning. Not only in Jolo, but in other places. We were forewarned, we were ready," Duterte said, noting that his top law enforcement and intelligence people were in Davao City for that reason.

"Unfortunately, we cannot frisk or order people to stop and search because that could be fascistic. Then that is not a democracy anymore. That is the price of being a democratic state," 

"Any action at all taken by the security forces will be in furtherance to stop terrorism. And I am including drugs because there are so many killings unfairly attributed to the police,"

Source: TNP, GMA