JUST as peace and order is becoming apparent in the country, comes the bombing of a night market in one of the safest cities in the world -- Davao. On September 2, about 14 individuals died while 65 were wounded during the explosion, the city was left in shock.
A day after the bombing comes the declaration of "state of lawlessness" not just in Davao but in the whole country.
The rouge group Abu Sayyaf has admitted the bombing and warned authorities of more bombings around the country.
The President explained that it will not be martial law, but he emphasized that more military movements will be implemented.
Based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the President has the authority "to call in the military to act as police support in cases of terrorist attacks or such violent conflicts."
Duterte added Davao City will be locked down and there will be massive checkpoints.
The President added the Davao explosion is not an isolated case and the government is expecting similar incidents in other areas of the country.
While Mindanao is thousands miles away from Baguio City and the Cordilleras, police have also intensified their security measures to avert any destabilization plot by the rogue group which has been linked to kidnapping in the South.
Authorities are now on full alert with checkpoints everywhere, doubled mobile, foot patrol and inspection in terminals are being done simultaneously not just in the city but in its adjoining towns and all over the country.
But the declaration of the state of lawlessness has spurred fear among citizens as a precursor to martial law.
While the President assured their priority is the safety of the public, we cannot just sit back that when we wake up, what we dreaded for years has already happened.