February 24 2006

PGMA declares a State of National Emergency

(Following is the complete text of PROCLAMATION NO. 1017 DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday, February 24, 2006):

WHEREAS, over these past months, elements in the political opposition have conspired with authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the NDF-CPP-NPA and the extreme Right, represented by military adventurists – the historical enemies of the democratic Philippine State -- who are now in a tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front, to bring down the duly-constituted Government elected in May 2004;

WHEREAS, these conspirators have repeatedly tried to bring down the President;

WHEREAS, the claims of these elements have been recklessly magnified by certain segments of the national media;

WHEREAS, this series of actions is hurting the Philippine State – by obstructing governance including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government and their faith in the future of this country;

WHEREAS, these actions are adversely affecting the economy;

WHEREAS, these activities give totalitarian forces of both the extreme Left and extreme Right the opening to intensify their avowed aims to bring down the democratic Philippine State;

WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 4 of our Constitution makes the defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and the State the primary duty of Government;

WHEREAS, the activities above-described, their consequences, ramifications and collateral effects constitute a clear and present danger to the safety and the integrity of the Philippine State and of the Filipino people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Section 18, Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution which states that: "The President…whenever it becomes necessary,… may call out (the) armed forces to prevent or suppress … rebellion…," and in my capacity as their Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article 12 of the Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 24^th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand and six.

SIGNED:

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines

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Following is the full text of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on her declaration of a State of Emergency

Kalayaan Press Briefing Room, Malacañang, February 24, 2006

Mga Kababayan:

Nagdeklara ako ng State of Emergency dahil sa maliwanag at kasalukuyang banta sa Republika na ating napag-alaman at napigil.

May ilang sumubok lumihis sa armed forces chain of command, lumabag sa gobyernong sibil, at magtatag ng rehimen sa labas ng Saligang Batas.

Nabuwag natin ang pakanang ito. Kasama sa pagkilos natin ang pagdakip ng mga militar at sibilyang magkakasabwat. At hindi rin palalampasin ang mg nagbibigay ng salapi at suportang pulitika sa pag-aalsa.

Napigil na ng pamahalaan itong iligal na pagkilos. Maliban sa ilang tumiwalag, nasa puwesto at matapat sa linya ng pamunuan ang lahat ng opisyal na militar hangang sa mga batalyon. Bilang Commander-in-Chief, kontrolado ko ang sitwasyon.

Katatapos ko lamang pulungin ang aking Gabinete na nagkakaisa at buo ang loob na ipagpatuloy ang serbisyo publiko sa kabila ng kalagayan ng seguridad. Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng ating mga pamahalaang lokal na patuloy ring maglingkod. Hindi dapat malagay sa alanganin ang kaligtasan at kabuhayan ng tao.

Samantala, ipinapaubaya ko sa pinuno ng AFP at hepe ng PNP ang mga nararapat na pagkilos. Mag-uulat sila sa media hinggil sa mga darating na pangyayari.

Mag-uulat naman ang Secretary ng Foreign Affairs sa mga embahador.

Ito ang babala ko sa mga nagbabalak laban sa bayan: Babagsak sa inyong pagtataksil ang buong bigat ng batas. Ipinapahamak ninyo ang mahihirap sa inyong paghatak ng bansa palayo sa ating nararapat na antas sa daigdig bilang kuta ng pagkakaisa, pagsasakripisyo, pagmamalasakit at kahusayan sa mundo. Kinakalas din ninyo ang ekonomiya sa kaniyang mga tumatatag na saligan.

Sa lahat nating mga kababayan, hinihiling ko sa inyo na manatiling mahinahon. Nananawagan ako sa media na iulat ang mga pangyayari sang-ayon sa tungkulin sa bayan, at huwag palampasin ang mga nakasasamang alingasngas at maling balita.

Salamat sa inyong pananalig sa bayan at sa ating magandang hinaharap.

Pagpalain nawa ng Diyos ang sambayanang Pilipino.

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PGMA calls on AFP to maintain public peace, suppress lawless violence

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued today General Order No. 5 directing the Armed Forces of the Philippines to maintain public peace, order and safety and to suppress lawless violence in the wake of what she called "a clear and present danger to the country and the people."

The order was pursuant to Proclamation No. 1017 which she issued earlier, where she declared a state of national emergency throughout the country in her capacity as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the AFP.

"I hereby direct the Chief of Staff of the AFP and the Chief of the Philippine National Police, as well as the officers and men of the AFP and PNP, to immediately carry out the necessary and appropriate actions and measures to suppress and prevent acts of terrorism and lawless violence," she said in General Order No. 5.

The Order cited the same reasons for her declaration of a state of emergency.

It said that over these past months, elements in the political opposition have conspired with authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA) and the extreme Right represented by military adventurists as having forged a tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted effort and systematic conspiracy over a broad front to bring down the duly constituted government elected in May 2004.

The Order further said the series of actions is hurting the country by obstructing governance, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government and their faith and in the future of the country.

It also cited Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution which makes the defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and the State as the primary duty of government.

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VP Noli supports PGMA's declaration of a State of National Emergency

Vice President Noli de Castro expressed full support today to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to declare a state of national emergency.

"I respect the right of the President to declare a state of emergency in order to preserve the peace, maintain law and order, and ensure the protection of human rights and civil liberties of the people for as long as there is imminent threat to public safety," the Vice President said.

"I reaffirm my support to the people, the Constitution, and the duly constituted authorities," he added.

De Castro urged the Filipinos to rally behind the Constitution and by doing so "be assured of the continued enjoyment of our freedom and our democratic way of life."

The President declared this morning a state of national emergency under Proclamation No. 1017 after the military foiled a coup attempt against the duly-constituted government.

In declaring a state of national emergency, the President said that the series of destabilization attempts by her critics is "hurting the Philippine state—by obstructing governance, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government and their faith in the future of this country."

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Declaration of State of National Emergency authorized by Charter

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and a constitutional expert said today that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency is authorized by the Constitution.

Both Secretary Gonzalez and Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas agreed that the Constitution allows the Chief Executive to declare a state of emergency in times of calamities and chaos.

Bernas, dean of the Ateneo Law School and member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, said the President could declare a state of emergency as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

But he said it is expected that the President’s critics would challenge Proclamation 1017 before the Supreme Court.

He called on the Filipino people to remain calm and not to worry about warrantless arrests as long as they avoid any participation in any covert operations against the government.

At the same time, he cautioned the government to respect the constitutional rights of individuals.

Under Proclamation 1017, the government could take over privately owned public utilities, but Gonzalez said that at present that point has not yet been reached.

In declaring a state of national emergency this morning, the President cited Article 7 Section 18 of the Constitution which states that: "The President…whenever necessary…may call out the armed forces to prevent or suppress…rebellion…" and Article 12 Section 17 of the Constitution which states that: "In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operations of privately owned public utilities or business affected with public interest."

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PGMA says situation is well under control

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that notwithstanding the existence of a state of national emergency, the situation all over the country is well under control.

The President made the assurance in the wake of the discovery of a plan by a few misguided elements in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in conspiracy with the Left represented by the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA), to overthrow the government.

"We have nipped this plan in the bud," the President said in the vernacular, adding that arrests are forthcoming for those who have conspired in the plot, including the financiers of the foiled coup attempt.

The President assured the country that except for those who have chosen to break the chain of command, the military is united behind the Constitution and the commander-in-chief.

She said she is leaving it up to the military and police hierarchy to make the necessary moves pursuant to Proclamation 1017 and its accompanying General Order No. 5 which she also issued today.

The President warned that the government will apply the full force of the law against those who persist in their plot to sow chaos and overthrow the duly-constituted authority.

"Ipinapahamak ninyo ang mahihirap sa inyong paghatak ng bansa palayo sa ating nararapat na antas sa daigdig bilang kuta ng pagkakaisa, pagsasakripisyo, pagmamalasakit at kahusayan sa mundo. Kinakalas din ninyo ang ekonomiya sa kaniyang mga tumatatag na saligan," the President stressed.

She called on the public to stay calm and the media to report only the truth, even she urged them not to play up negative and distorted information.

The President’s pronouncements came following a meeting of the government’s crisis committee at Malacañang this morning which was attended by members of the Cabinet and top military officials.

The Chief Executive called on the members of the Cabinet and local government officials to continue with their usual public functions despite the situation.

"I call on all local governments to continue serving the people. Their safety and livelihood must not be unduly put in jeopardy," she said.

During the meeting, the President said she also asked the Foreign Affairs department to make the necessary reports to the various foreign embassies in the country.

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24 FEBRUARY 2006