AFP to meet with DND officials to discuss MO 32 provisions
Published Nov 26, 2018 01:01 pm
By Francis Wakefield
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the military will have a meeting with Department of National Defense (DND) officials to determine how they will operationalize on the ground the provisions under Memorandum Order No. 32.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo
(YouTube via UNTV / MANILA BULLETIN) In a statement, Arevalo said as in their previous statement, the AFP fully supports Mo 32 as it is meant to stop the violence happening in the Bicol region and the Visayas. ”We defer our further comments on that issuance until we sit on a meeting with DND officials (and the latter with the DILG) to discuss MO 32 and to hammer down the details on how we will operationalize its provisions on the ground," Arevalo said in a statement. “Suffice it to say that we support the intent of the MO as it envisions to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror and to prevent such violence from spreading and escalating in other parts of the country. " “We say we support MO 32’s intent primarily because to protect the people and secure the state is the AFP’s constitutional mandate," he added. Arevalo earlier said Malacañang's Memorandum Order No. 32 authorizing intensified intelligence operations against persons or groups behind the acts of lawless violence as well as their prompt investigation and prosecution, is not a prelude to a creeping martial law for the whole country. "It's related insofar as it reinforces Proclamation 55. But it's a speculation to say that its (MO 32) issuance is a prelude to a creeping martial law for the whole country," Arevalo said. Proclamation No. 55, it was recalled, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 4, 2016, to officially declare a state of emergency in the Philippines in response to the 2016. Arevalo said that as far as they are concerned, the MO is to ensure they are doing their job properly. "Hindi ito saan pa mang kadahilanan kundi upang siguruhin na nagagawa natin ang ating tungkulin bilang isang pamahalaan in our capacity bilang Armed Forces (This is not for any other reason but only to ensure that we are doing are job as a government in our capacity as Armed Forces)," Arevalo said. "It’s to ensure that our people are safe, our communities are safe at ang ating mga kababayan ay malayang naitataguyod ang kanilang mga pamumuhay at kabuhayan upang sila naman ay makaranas ng biyayang ating naatim (and our countryman can freely do their living to have a better life)," he said. In Memorandum Order No. 32, the President has also authorized intensified intelligence operations against persons or groups behind the acts of lawless violence as well as their prompt investigation and prosecution. The memorandum reinforcing the guidelines for the AFP and PNP in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea upon the orders of the President on November 22. It was released to the public Friday. “There is a need to reinforce the directive of the President to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property and bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible,” the order read. “The Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government shall coordinate he additional deployment of additional forces of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) to suppress violence and acts of terror in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Bicol region and prevent such violence spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country,” it added. The memorandum order cited that there has been a recent occurrence of a “number of sporadic acts of violence” committed by lawless groups in the concerned areas. Under MO 32, the military, police and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been directed “to intensify local and transnational intelligence operations against individuals or groups suspected of, or responsible for, conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence in the Philippines.” The concerned authorities must also step up “the prompt investigation and prosecution of all individuals or groups apprehended for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence.” Local government units were enjoined to give their “full support and utmost cooperation” to ensure the effective implementation of the order. The military and police have also been reminded to respect and give due regard to the constitutional rights of persons in implementation of MO 32. “No civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a national state of emergency on account of lawless violence,” the order read. “In particular, the AFP and PNP are enjoined to observe existing rules and jurisprudence in instances that may justify the implementation of warrantless arrests, searches and seizures as well as ensure compliance of guidelines for police/military checkpoints and stop-and-frisk situations,” it added. The Palace warned that any policeman or soldier violating such rights would face administrative, civil or criminal liability. MO 32 cited that the President issued Proclamation No. 55 in 2016 declaring a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao and called out the AFP and PNP to suppress such activity and prevent its spread elsewhere in the country. It also mentioned MO 3 issued in 2016 that provided guidelines for the AFP and PNP for the implementation of the President’s Proclamation 55.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo(YouTube via UNTV / MANILA BULLETIN) In a statement, Arevalo said as in their previous statement, the AFP fully supports Mo 32 as it is meant to stop the violence happening in the Bicol region and the Visayas. ”We defer our further comments on that issuance until we sit on a meeting with DND officials (and the latter with the DILG) to discuss MO 32 and to hammer down the details on how we will operationalize its provisions on the ground," Arevalo said in a statement. “Suffice it to say that we support the intent of the MO as it envisions to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror and to prevent such violence from spreading and escalating in other parts of the country. " “We say we support MO 32’s intent primarily because to protect the people and secure the state is the AFP’s constitutional mandate," he added. Arevalo earlier said Malacañang's Memorandum Order No. 32 authorizing intensified intelligence operations against persons or groups behind the acts of lawless violence as well as their prompt investigation and prosecution, is not a prelude to a creeping martial law for the whole country. "It's related insofar as it reinforces Proclamation 55. But it's a speculation to say that its (MO 32) issuance is a prelude to a creeping martial law for the whole country," Arevalo said. Proclamation No. 55, it was recalled, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 4, 2016, to officially declare a state of emergency in the Philippines in response to the 2016. Arevalo said that as far as they are concerned, the MO is to ensure they are doing their job properly. "Hindi ito saan pa mang kadahilanan kundi upang siguruhin na nagagawa natin ang ating tungkulin bilang isang pamahalaan in our capacity bilang Armed Forces (This is not for any other reason but only to ensure that we are doing are job as a government in our capacity as Armed Forces)," Arevalo said. "It’s to ensure that our people are safe, our communities are safe at ang ating mga kababayan ay malayang naitataguyod ang kanilang mga pamumuhay at kabuhayan upang sila naman ay makaranas ng biyayang ating naatim (and our countryman can freely do their living to have a better life)," he said. In Memorandum Order No. 32, the President has also authorized intensified intelligence operations against persons or groups behind the acts of lawless violence as well as their prompt investigation and prosecution. The memorandum reinforcing the guidelines for the AFP and PNP in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea upon the orders of the President on November 22. It was released to the public Friday. “There is a need to reinforce the directive of the President to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property and bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible,” the order read. “The Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government shall coordinate he additional deployment of additional forces of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) to suppress violence and acts of terror in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Bicol region and prevent such violence spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country,” it added. The memorandum order cited that there has been a recent occurrence of a “number of sporadic acts of violence” committed by lawless groups in the concerned areas. Under MO 32, the military, police and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been directed “to intensify local and transnational intelligence operations against individuals or groups suspected of, or responsible for, conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence in the Philippines.” The concerned authorities must also step up “the prompt investigation and prosecution of all individuals or groups apprehended for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence.” Local government units were enjoined to give their “full support and utmost cooperation” to ensure the effective implementation of the order. The military and police have also been reminded to respect and give due regard to the constitutional rights of persons in implementation of MO 32. “No civil or political rights are suspended during the existence of a national state of emergency on account of lawless violence,” the order read. “In particular, the AFP and PNP are enjoined to observe existing rules and jurisprudence in instances that may justify the implementation of warrantless arrests, searches and seizures as well as ensure compliance of guidelines for police/military checkpoints and stop-and-frisk situations,” it added. The Palace warned that any policeman or soldier violating such rights would face administrative, civil or criminal liability. MO 32 cited that the President issued Proclamation No. 55 in 2016 declaring a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao and called out the AFP and PNP to suppress such activity and prevent its spread elsewhere in the country. It also mentioned MO 3 issued in 2016 that provided guidelines for the AFP and PNP for the implementation of the President’s Proclamation 55.