The Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) is awaiting for the guidelines of the implementation of the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao by President Rodirgo R. Duterte.
This after the Maute Group took-over Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday.
EMC public information officer Maj. Ezra L. Balagtey said, in a statment, that they are just waiting for the guidelines from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on how the declaration will be implemented on the ground.
Balagtey said that while the implementing guidlines are yet to be released, the EMC reiterates its call for the public to be vigilant and remain to be calm.
“And to immediately report to law enforcement units any suspicious-looking individual or activity in their vicinity,” he said.
Balagtey said all of their units remained to be on heightened alert after the incident in Marawi City.
” Security operations were intensified in urban areas of Eastern Mindanao particularly Davao City, General Santos City and Cagayan De Oro City to prevent diversionary attacks,” he said.
Balagtey said the EMC is taking the necessary measures to secure the maritime, coastal and land areas and mantain peace and order.
“In coordination with the Philippine National Police, Local Government Units and other Law Enforcement Agencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemned the Martial Law declaration.
KMP secretary general Antonio Flores said Declaring a Mindanao-wide Martial Law “only puts innocent civilians at risk of state perpetrated human rights violations.”
“Martial law is not justified nor the solution,” he said.
Flores added that the declaration is a pretext to escalating abuses of the state forces and attacks versus civilians.
“We need to remain vigilant and condemn Duterte’s Martial Law declaration,” he said.
But for Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, there is no reason to be scared with Martial Law.
“Kung hindi ka kriminal, hindi ka member ng Maute at ISIS there is no reason na matakot ka (If you are not a criminal or a member of Maute and ISIS, you have no reason to be scared),” Duterte-Carpio said.
She advised the public to cooperate with the security measures being implemented by authorities for safety and security of the city.
The mayor added it will be good if these people will bring identification cards or other documents and present it, if asked in the checkpoints.
Duterte-Carpio released a guidelines for Dabawenyos covering the period of Martial Law after declaring the city under state of hold and secure.
