What “Martial Law?”
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus rejected on Tuesday the objections and claims of “undeclared martial law” by some minority senators to the security survey and inspection (SSI) of the Senate premises by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Lacson stressed that the inspection stemmed from intelligence reports indicating a security threat to the Senate, adding that no one was exempted, not even the offices of the majority bloc members.
“Martial law? All the offices of individual senators, even including that of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, as well as those occupied by the secretariat and all other offices, were subjected to safety and security inspections to make sure that we and the Senate employees as well as the media people covering the Senate will be safe and secure from a repeat of the May 13 shooting incident and mayhem that transpired under the watch of disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano,” he said.
“Except for those of us who may be apprehensive that they may have kept or stored contraband items like firearms, explosives and drugs in their offices, those with clean consciences should all welcome instead of criticize the SSI that was conducted by the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Itinanggi ang Bintang na ‘Martial Law’ sa Security Inspection sa Senado
Earlier, Gatchalian issued an advisory to all senators and Senate offices that the SSI stemmed from persistent information and intelligence reports relayed by the National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and other corroborating security assessments that confirmed an “evolving security concern.”
In his advisory, Gatchalian said the evolving security concern is under the context of “heightened political tensions, ongoing impeachment proceedings, anticipated mass mobilizations and the risk of actions that may threaten the security of the Senators, officials and employees, and disrupt, impede or interfere with Senate operations.”
Earlier Tuesday, some minority senators objected to the inspection. Cayetano, in a Facebook livestream, questioned whether the Senate was under “martial law” because it was placed under “lockdown.”
Sen. Robinhood Padilla posted on Facebook that senators should remember that the Senate belongs to civilians, and “wag po ninyong itrato na kampo tayo ng sundalo (do not treat the Senate as a military camp),” with his post supported by “trolls” who claimed the country is under “undeclared” or “silent martial law.”
Lacson earlier said that whoever is using the 18 “Maleta boys” – or ex-soldiers who claim to have delivered money in suitcases to various personalities – for a possible destabilization attempt cannot undermine the professionalism of the uniformed services.
He added the majority bloc is prepared for the dirty tricks they expect Cayetano to employ ahead of the special session on Wednesday.
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Lacson, Itinanggi ang Bintang na ‘Martial Law’ sa Security Inspection sa Senado
Anong “Martial Law?”
Ito ang pagbasura ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes sa mga bintang ng ilang senador ng minorya na may “undeclared martial law” dahil sa security survey and inspection (SSI) na ginawa sa Senado ng Philippine National Police (PNP) at Bureau of Fire Protection, sa tulong ng the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Diin ni Lacson, ang inspeksyon ay nagbunga sa mga intelligence report na may security threat sa Senado – sabay giit na walang exemptions ang inspeksyon, maging ang mga tanggapan ng myembro ng majority bloc.
“Martial law? All the offices of individual senators, even including that of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, as well as those occupied by the secretariat and all other offices, were subjected to safety and security inspections to make sure that we and the Senate employees as well as the media people covering the Senate will be safe and secure from a repeat of the May 13 shooting incident and mayhem that transpired under the watch of disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano,” ani Lacson.
“Except for those of us who may be apprehensive that they may have kept or stored contraband items like firearms, explosives and drugs in their offices, those with clean consciences should all welcome instead of criticize the SSI that was conducted by the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang nagpalabas si Gatchalian ng advisory para sa lahat ng senador at mga tanggapan ng Senado na nagsasaad na ang SSI ay isinagawa dahil sa patuloy na mga impormasyon at intelligence reports mula sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), at iba pang nagpapatibay na security assessments na nagkumpirma ng isang “evolving security concern.”
Sa naturang advisory, sinabi ni Gatchalian na ang lumalawak na usapin sa seguridad ay nagaganap sa gitna ng “heightened political tensions, ongoing impeachment proceedings, anticipated mass mobilizations” at panganib ng mga pagkilos na maaaring magbanta sa seguridad ng mga senador, opisyal at empleyado, at makagambala, makahadlang o makialam sa operasyon ng Senado.
Tumutol ang ilang minoryang senador sa inspeksiyon. Sa Facebook Live niya, tinanong ni Cayetano kung isinailalim sa “martial law” ang Senado dahil nailagay ito sa “lockdown.”
Nag-post naman si Sen. Robinhood Padilla sa Facebook na dapat tandaan ng mga senador na ang Senado ay para sa mga sibilyan at “wag po ninyong itrato na kampo tayo ng sundalo” – na sinangayunan ng “trolls” na nagsasabing “undeclared” o “silent martial law” na.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na sinuman ang gumagamit sa 18 “Maleta Boys” — mga dating sundalo na nagsasabing naghatid sila ng mga maletang puno ng pera sa iba’t ibang personalidad — para sa posibleng tangkang destabilisasyon ay hindi kayang pahinain ang propesyonalismo ng mga uniformed service.
Dagdag niya, handa ang majority bloc sa mga maruruming gimik na inaasahan nilang maaaring gawin ni Cayetano bago ang espesyal na sesyon ng Senado sa Miyerkules.
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