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Proclamation 1017 did nothing to solve the country's national security problems but worsened the sense of instability and uncertainty among the people. The only thing it accomplished was to provide additional fodder to those who already suspect the administration of laying the ground works of martial law.
Is the administration contemplating authoritarian rule? The raid on the editorial offices of the Daily Tribune and the warrantless arrests of some opposition leaders are reminiscent of the horrors of the Marcos era. The President may mean well in proclaiming an emergency situation, which on its surface is valid and justified but the possibility of abuse at lower levels casts questionable light on its constitutionality especially because it is indefinite and broadly defined.
Proclamation 1017 merely declared the existence of an emergency situation and did not give the President special powers. Without such official proclamation the President as Commander-in-Chief has powers to call out the armed forces to prevent and suppress restiveness in the military and restrict the movements of destabilizing forces. A government confident of being duly constituted would just exercise its powers decisively without causing undue fear to its people.
The President may have reliable information not available to public. Thus, we may never be sure how serious the threat to the government was during the EDSA anniversary weekend but the period has passed with the people needed to recreate the EDSA I moment opting either to stay home or watch a wrestling event at the Araneta Center. The President herself admitted the threat has subsided but her continued refusal to lift the unnecessary proclamation can be construed that the administration is headed to realize our worst fear...
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