Gloria Arroyo: Duterte’s declaration of state of lawlessness ‘the right thing to do’

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes President Rodrigo Duterte did the right thing by declaring a state of lawlessness following last Friday's deadly blast in Davao City since he is facing a national threat.

At a press briefing on Monday, Mrs. Arroyo, who is currently serving as Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives, recalled issuing the same declaration when she was president.

“Ginagawa ko yun nung panahon ko eh, so it’s the right thing to do,” she said when asked about the mixed public reaction to Duterte’s announcement.

“The threat is national so it’s just right that we should trust the President,” Mrs. Arroyo added.

Arroyo:Pres.Duterte knows all the lessons (re: declaring state of lawlessness). He helped me all the time. He was my adviser on peace, order

— Xianne Arcangel (@xianneangel) September 5, 2016

Duterte declared a state of lawlessness all over the country last Saturday following the explosion in Davao City’s night market on Sept. 2, which left 14 people dead.

In 2003, then-President Arroyo announced a “state of lawless violence” following a bombing in Davao City but its scope was limited to that area.

Based on her experience, the former Philippine leader said the duration of a state of lawlessness varies “according to the condition.”

“I used to rely on the judgment of security officials,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she is confident of Duterte’s ability to handle the crisis in Davao City since he had served as her adviser on peace and order when he was still a mayor.

“When I used to have those problems in Mindanao, I would ask Mayor Duterte to handle it for me. He handled it very well under me so I know he’ll handle it just as well, if not even better than myself,” she said.

When asked for lessons she can share with Duterte in dealing with a crisis similar to the Davao blast, Mrs. Arroyo said the President knows what to do already.

“President Duterte knows all the lessons already. He was helping me all the time when he was my adviser. He knows my experience, he knows all the lessons,” he said.  — RSJ, GMA News