Draft declaration of state of nat'l emergency ready (a modest word for martial law?)

Oct 10, 2005
Updated 05:18pm (Mla time)
Tetch Torres
INQ7.net

THE ARROYO administration is poised to declare a state of national emergency.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said he already has a five-page draft of the declaration which will be submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

But the justice chief clarified that the declaration has no connection to the rumored declaration of martial law, which requires approval of Congress.

In his draft, Gonzalez said that government, under emergency rule, will take over vital industries while the country's situation is still uncertain.

Gonzalez said the take over of operation of vital industries is justified under Article 12 Section 17 which states that: "In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest."

The draft declaration is a product of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) research on the economic stability of the country.

Gonzalez maintained that the planned declaration is legal. "I don't think the Supreme Court will meddle with Article 12."