The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said there is no need for a declaration of martial law after Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo stated that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can be considered as an invasion.
According to PNP Spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, the pandemic has no direct threat of rebellion and invasion. But the PNP is prepared to respond to any decision made by President Rodrigo Duterte on the fight against COVID-19.
For the part of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo shared that they are focused on helping the nation against COVID-19.
“At this time, our sights remain focused keenly on how to help national and local governments to curve the pandemic, sustain our irreversible gains in further degrading the communist terrorist group, and defeat decisively other local terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.”
The PNP and AFP have conveyed that they will leave the decision on matters like martial law to the President. – Report from Bea Bernardo
