MANILA, Philippines – The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can be considered an invasion and ground for possible declaration of martial law, President Rodrigo Duterte's chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Monday.
"May bago nang international meaning ang invasion...It can mean the entry of a disease and the transfer from one area to another," Panelo said in his commentary program on PTV.
"Ano bang meron ngayon? There is an actual invasion of the coronavirus disease which is pandemic," he said.
According to him, COVID-19 brings threat to public safety causing invasion.
"It threatens in fact the entire country yung lahat ng mga kababayan natin so may actual na invasion," he said.
"Sa aking pananaw po bilang abogado, lahat ng sitwasyon o kalakaran na maaaring parang rebellion o invasion at nagbibigay ng panganib, imminent danger sa taumbayan eh pwede kang gumamit ng extraordinary power under the constitution," he added.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the president may only impose martial law in case of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.
WATCH: Counterpoint with Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo (head over to 44:13)
Meanwhile, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Edre Olalia commented that Panelo's remark was “factually absurd.”
“Unbelievable. Legally untenable, constitutionally preposterous and factually absurd, yet an extremely perilous fable,” Olalia said.
Two weeks ago, Duterte warned he might declare martial law if the leftists continued their deadly attacks on state troops during the pandemic.
— The Summit Express
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| Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo | Photo Credit: PCOO |
"May bago nang international meaning ang invasion...It can mean the entry of a disease and the transfer from one area to another," Panelo said in his commentary program on PTV.
"Ano bang meron ngayon? There is an actual invasion of the coronavirus disease which is pandemic," he said.
According to him, COVID-19 brings threat to public safety causing invasion.
"It threatens in fact the entire country yung lahat ng mga kababayan natin so may actual na invasion," he said.
"Sa aking pananaw po bilang abogado, lahat ng sitwasyon o kalakaran na maaaring parang rebellion o invasion at nagbibigay ng panganib, imminent danger sa taumbayan eh pwede kang gumamit ng extraordinary power under the constitution," he added.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the president may only impose martial law in case of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.
WATCH: Counterpoint with Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo (head over to 44:13)
Meanwhile, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Edre Olalia commented that Panelo's remark was “factually absurd.”
“Unbelievable. Legally untenable, constitutionally preposterous and factually absurd, yet an extremely perilous fable,” Olalia said.
Two weeks ago, Duterte warned he might declare martial law if the leftists continued their deadly attacks on state troops during the pandemic.
— The Summit Express
