IGINIIT ng Palasyo na walang plano si Pangulong Duterte na magdeklara ng martial law matapos namang kuwestyunin ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson ang paglalabas ng Memorandum Order number 32 na nag-aatas sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP) na magdagdag ng pwersa sa Samar, Bohol, Negros Oriental at Negros Occidental.
Sa isang briefing, iginiit ni Presidential Spokesperson at Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo na nagdeklara na sana si Duterte kung may plano siya na ipatupad ang batas militar sa buong bansa.
“Well, we repeatedly said, if there is any intention, then it should have been declared. But there is none. Now, with respect to why there is a need, eh as we have repeatedly said, there is a need for that because those areas need to be secured,” sabi ni Panelo.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na posibleng mauwi sa martial law o pagsuspinde sa writ of habeas corpus ang paglalabas ni Duterte ng MO 32.
“Maybe if he were the President, it’s not necessary for him. The problem is he is not the President. And the President feels that there is a need for that,” giit ni Panelo.