Q:
Hi. So we understand that the President has called off his trip to Brunei. Does that mean that he’s also cancelling his trips to other nations as well lined up, Secretary Andanar?SEC. ANDANAR:
The President will still push through with his trip to Lao, that is for sure. I am not certain with the trip to Indonesia. I can verify the information once I see the President tomorrow.Q:
So, so far it’s just Brunei and Lao?

SEC. ANDANAR:
No. So far, it’s just Lao. The Brunei trip has been cancelled, and we are not certain with the Indonesia flight.

Q:
Alright, so your line got choppy there for a bit. The Brunei trip has been cancelled, he is pushing through with Lao, is that what you’re saying? But not certain if he’s still gonna push through with Indonesia as well, correct?

SEC. ANDANAR:
No. The Brunei trip has been cancelled; the Lao trip, which is the ASEAN, the official ASEAN leg pushes through; while I’m not yet certain about the trip to Indonesia.

Q:
Alright. Where are you now, Secretary Andanar?

SEC. ANDANAR:
I’m in Manila now.

Q:
Oh, you’re in Manila already. When did you leave Davao?

SEC. ANDANAR:
I left Davao because initially, we were supposed to go to Brunei, and I was supposed to be part of the delegation that will arrive today. So, when the President decided that at three o’clock in the morning that he will push through with Brunei, I had to fly back to Manila.

Q:
Okay, and how were things when you left Davao?

SEC. ANDANAR:
Oh, the environment was sad. Certainly, certainly there was haywire. And—but when I left the office at the DSPO – this is the District City Police Office – when I left the office, things were beginning to be clear for everyone in the room, from the President to Executive Secretary Bingbong Medialdea, myself, Ernie Abella, Bong Go and the other Cabinet officials. We already had a clear picture more or less who had the hand in this attack at the Davao Night Market. You know, we were still waiting for the official investigation.

Q:
Early this morning though, Secretary Andanar, the ASG has claimed responsibility for the attack. Do you have reason now to believe that it is the ASG, it was the ASG behind the attack in Davao City?

SEC. ANDANAR:
Yes, (unclear) eighty percent last night, we were already surmising that it was the ASG behind this, about 80% reprisal according to the President. And yeah, (unclear), they admitted that they (unclear) .

Q:
So the President himself believes that the Abu Sayyaf Group was indeed behind the attack in Davao City. The question is, Secretary Andanar, how was it possible that members of the ASG were able to penetrate Davao City and launch that attack last night?

SEC. ANDANAR:
You can see it in the final investigation and upon the admittance of the ASG, they were the ones who really did this. Now, you cannot see them; they’re faceless enemy; they can just go in and out of our porous society, we’re still a democracy. You don’t stop people from coming in and out, and it’s very difficult to pinpoint where they are exactly at any time of the day.

Q:
Because of this, what you just said, that it’s very difficult because they are faceless, we are dealing with… you are dealing with a faceless enemy here, how is this going to impact on the security situation? What should people expect now that the President has called… declared rather a state of lawless violence? What will it mean to us?

SEC. ANDANAR:
It should mean to us that it’s a very serious problem, that we should not even be lax in our personal security, but we should cooperate with authorities more and more. The police, the barangay tanods, and now with the state of lawlessness, the involvementof the Armed Forces of the Philippines in keeping our society safe.

Q:
So, does this mean that, you know, more checkpoints, curfews? Will this mean, as well, as Fr. Ranhilio Aquino of San Beda said that this may just also be a signal coming from the President that he may ask the legislature for some emergency powers. Did you talk about that last night? Is the President going to ask for emergency powers?

SEC. ANDANAR:
The President for now, only needs to declare what he did declare, the state of lawlessness, giving more authority to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to cooperate or to help, to augment the police force. I said, in a normal situation, it is the police force who is in charge of lawlessness in our country. So now, with declaration of the President, the AFP is now given the authority to help. And people will have to expect more of the checkpoints, as you mentioned. And not only in the streets, but also in the vital installations. And this show of visibility from our authorities should also give our citizens the signal, for them to also cooperate, and the practice of specific duties and responsibilities in helping our society become more safe.

Q:
What about curfew, Secretary Andanar? Will there be curfews implemented?

SEC. ANDANAR:
I don’t have the declaration in front of me right now, but certainly there would be curfews in Mindanao, especially in Davao, in the Sulu region and Basilan.

Q:
Now, we have to ask you this. There was a bit of confusion yesterday, or even early this morning, regarding the declaration of the President. First it was thought that it was just going to be in Mindanao, and then came the correction that it’s going to be—it is, in fact, throughout the country. What happened there, Secretary Andanar? Why was there that confusion in the beginning?

SEC. ANDANAR:
There was a miscommunication between a Davao media personality who acts as the head of a Viber group between the President and who does the beat, media. That’s where it all started, and I had to correct that.

Q:
So what you really meant was throughout the country?

SEC. ANDANAR:
Yes, throughout the country, Carmina, that’s right.

Q:
Alright. We understand that in the few minutes there will be a memorial for the victims of the ‘Davao blast.’ Is the President going to attend that as well?

SEC. ANDANAR:
I have yet to talk to the President and to Special Assistant to the President Bong Go. In about 30 minutes we’re supposed to talk, and I’m supposed to get some updates and activities of the President.

Q:
There are fears, Secretary Andanar… as we wrap up this interview, there are fears that this is just, you know, the beginning, and that the President will eventually declare Martial Law. What do you say to that?

SEC. ANDANAR:
Well, it’s difficult to speculate, Karmina, at this point. Let’s hope and pray that we don’t get more of those evil and demonic bombings. Because if this is multiplied, then the President would have to do whatever he has to do.

Q:
Secretary Andanar, we appreciate your taking our call. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.