MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday ordered the dismantling of all checkpoints in the country, unless these were set up against a specific target.

Duterte said checkpoints should be set up only if there was “probability or A1” information that police or military targets would pass through a certain road.

“Except really if it necessary, only if there is specific reason to do it, I am ordering all checkpoints dismantled,” Duterte said in a televised speech from Cotabato City.

“Kung ano-ano lang kayo, baka meron baka wala, wag yan [If you’re just taking chances, stop it] and that’s for the entire country,” he said.

The President said security checkpoints, particularly in Mindanao, were causing travel delays.

“Pag walang purpose, pangpagulo ng buhay ng Pilipino yan [If there’s no purpose, that will only inconvenience Filipinos],” he said.

READ: 10 things to remember at police checkpoints

Duterte placed the country under a state of emergency in September, after a bomb blast in Davao City left 14 people killed and scores wounded. This allowed soldiers to join police patrols.