‘State of lawlessness eyed even before Davao blast’
Malacañang was preparing to declare a state of lawlessness even before the blast in Davao City that killed 15 people and injured over 60 last Friday, an official said yesterday.
Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo said two drafts of the proclamation were prepared for President Duterte. One was from him and the other from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. These drafts are still being “fine-tuned” for Duterte’s approval.
“It was not the trigger,” Panelo said, referring to the Davao bombing. “In fact, we have been preparing the draft to provide justifications. The President has been looking at the magnitude of the (peace anc order) problem. If he can resolve the problems without (declaring a state of lawlessness), he would not do it.”