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Emergency in General Santos city
President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency in General Santos city, southern Philippines, where a series of bombs exploded on Sunday.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay
- Published: 00:00 April 23, 2002
President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency in General Santos city, southern Philippines, where a series of bombs exploded on Sunday.
Fourteen people died and 60 people were injured in the blasts. "Terrorism has started surfacing again. We should not give terrorists an inch in this world," said Arroyo before she went to General Santos with Philippine National Police Chief Leandro Mendoza and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Diomedio Villanueva.
"I pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded. This is a crime against the Filipino people. This will not go unpunished. We will fight terrorism to its end," said Arroyo when she went to the two hospitals where the injured were brought.
Meanwhile, a bomb exploded in a pump boat near the National Power Corporation as Arroyo arrived in General Santos. Another bomb exploded in village Calumpang about seven kilometres from the airport where Arroyo arrived. No one was injured.
Despite this, Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes said she was against the declaration of emergency in General Santos, adding that bombings do not usually occur in the area.
In an earlier statement before she went to General Santos, Arroyo asked the Armed Forces to deploy two battalions in the affected areas. She also asked the Philippines National Police (PNP) to do the same.
Arroyo also called for the suppression of terrorist actions and lawless violence, to intensify intelligence and operation against perpetrators of the incident. She asked local government officials to declare a curfew, establish more checkpoints and beef up security in public places.
Arroyo called on the lower courts for swift prosecution and no bail for arrested suspects. She asked Congress to pass the anti-terrorism bill.
Arroyo told presidential advisers on the peace process, Norberto Gonzales and Eduardo Ermita, to ensure that separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also participate in the anti-terrorism campaign.
Arroyo offered $98,039 (P5 million) reward for the identity and apprehension of the bombers. She called on the social welfare department to give social assistance to the injured, most of them women and children. She distributed money and medicines to the families during her visit to General Santos.
But the cabinet has refused to pass any extraordinary measures like suspension of the right of habeas corpus or the declaration of Martial Law in the area. But the statement of the president endorses her measures in view of the emergency situation, said acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable.
His statement confused people who were made to believe that there was no declaration of a state of emergency in General Santos city.
"The president's call for extra measure is a consequence of the attack on General Santos. It will be a reaction against terrorists and will be taken whenever and wherever they exhibit terror," said another official, hinting that the state of emergency might be enforced in the area of Mindanao, the entire of southern Philippines.
"We have to take bold measures because what they did was not a joke," said National Security Adviser Roilo Golez.
"The president has the power to declare a state of emergency, but she should not violate the human rights of residents there. She should convene the National Security Council (NSC) to address the ongoing spate of bombing incidents," said Congressman Gery Salapudin.
At the same time, Transport and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez declared a double red alert in the country's air and sea ports, adding that Metro Manila is also endangered by terrorist attacks.
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