Lacson: Gather enough data before placing NCR under Alert Level 1

MAWAB, Davao de Oro — Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday said the government should gather enough data before deciding whether to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under Alert Level 1.

This was his response to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion’s call to place Metro Manila under the lowest alert level next month as COVID-19 cases continue to drop and to boost economic recovery.

While Lacson said that putting the region on Alert Level 1 may bring in an extra P11 billion to the economy, he also cautioned that the relaxing of restrictions could lead to lockdowns if there is a renewed surge in cases. 

“Now, again babalik tayo doon sa science-based at tsaka data-driven. Maganda ‘yon P11 billion in economic development, in terms of economic gains pero ano ang kapalit? Baka mamaya babalik na naman tayong lockdown. Ewan ko kung nagawa na nila, I assume ginawa na nila, ‘yung sa science and gather enough data,” he told reporters.

(We will go back to science-based and data-driven policies. It is good to gain P11 billion for the economy, but what will be the effect? We might suffer another lockdown. I don’t know if they already did this, but they should base it on science and gather enough data.)

At a media briefing on Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Alert Level 1 would be the country's "new normal." It is declared when case transmission is low and declining, and the total bed utilization and intensive care unit utilization rates are also low.

No to martial law, dictatorship

On the other hand, Lacson reiterated that there would be no martial law and no dictatorship under his watch.

“Ah, wala, wala. (Oh, no, no.) Definitely, democracy will be preserved. Walang (No) martial law, walang (no) dictatorship,” he said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is empowered to declare martial law in times of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.

Lacson said the Constitution provides limitations to the exercise of martial law powers.

“In the first place, ang (the) martial law (is already) defined na sa (under the) Constitution at may limitasyon ang deklarasyon ng (and the declaration) martial law (has its limitations) as if there is no martial law,” he said.

“Kasi, first, 60 days lang, ano—i-va-validate ng Congress. Pagkatapos the Bill of Rights are well-entrenched. Hindi magagalaw. Hindi pwedeng mang-aresto ng maski sino maski merong martial law,” the presidential candidate added.

(Because it is only limited to a period of 60 days upon the validation of Congress. Also, the Bill of Rights is well-entrenched. It won’t be touched. You cannot arrest anyone, even if there is a state of martial law.)

'Bailiwicks'

Meanwhile, Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, expressed confidence that they would get votes from Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.

Lacson said these two provinces are considered “bailiwicks” of his party, Partido Reporma.

“Sa akin ang significance [ng Davao de Oro], Partido Reporma ang candidates namin dito. Kaya Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, I can say bailiwick ng Partido Reporma,” he said.

(The significance of Davao de Oro is that our candidates here are members of Partido Reporma. I can say that Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro are the bailiwicks of Partido Reporma.)

Lacson said he is confident that Davao de Oro 2nd District Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga and other Partido Reporma members who are also running in the local elections would deliver votes for them.

Gonzaga’s wife, Dorothy Gonzaga, is running for governor of Davao de Oro.
She will go against Arturo Uy, father of incumbent Governor Tyrone Uy.

The Uys are allied with vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

HNP is a political party based in the Davao Region.

Apart from Mawab, the Lacson and Sotto tandem visited Monkayo, Davao de Oro.

Sotto recalled that he sponsored the legislation which separated Davao de Oro from Davao del Norte.

He also noted the warm welcome of the people during their sorties in the two provinces.

“Napakaganda. Ang ganda ng reception nakita nyo naman (As you’ve seen, there’s a warm welcome from the audience.) We’re very confident. We did not expect it that much. We’re very confident about Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro,” Sotto said.

According to the Commission on Elections, there are 508,221 registered voters in Davao de Oro for the May 9 polls. — VBL, GMA News