MANILA, Philippines — The creation of a special task force to help law enforcement agencies is being eyed “if lawless violence will persist” in the country.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they would assess the situation and, if needed, form a special team to help address peace and order problems. “We’ll play it by ear. If lawless violence persists, the DOJ (Department of Justice) may consider creating a special task force for the purpose,” he said.

Under Memorandum Order 32 issued by the Office of the President last Thursday, the DOJ was tasked to closely coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence.

Aside from assigning prosecutors who could help in the filing of cases, the DOJ also has direct supervision over the bureaus of investigation and of immigration.

“The DOJ is called upon to expeditiously investigate and prosecute those who may be apprehended for commission of lawless or terrorist acts,” Guevarra said.

Section 2 of MO 32 states that the AFP, PNP and DOJ, in close coordination with each other and other law-enforcement agencies and with the assistance of the intelligence community, shall intensify their local and transnational intelligence operations against individuals or groups suspected of or responsible for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence in the Philippines.

They are also tasked to conduct “prompt investigation and prosecution of all individuals or groups apprehended for committing or conspiring to commit acts of lawless violence.”

Guevarra noted that MO 32 was merely a reiteration of MO 3 issued by President Duterte in September 2016 in response to the Davao City bombing that killed 14 people and injured 60 others to provide the military and police with guidelines in implementing measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence.

Also in September 2016, Duterte issued Proclamation 55 to declare a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.

Among the bases for the issuance of MO 32 were a number of sporadic acts of violence that recently occurred in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and the Bicol Region.

Negros Occidental acting Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, whose province is among those cited in MO 32, views the deployment of more troops to Negros Island as something that would enhance the peace and order situation and not to go on all-out war against the communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA).

Progressive organizations in the island, including the September 21 Movement, are not as optimistic as they fear this will lead to widespread arrest and curtailment of rights.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, in a statement issued yesterday, said that Duterte, without a formal declaration, is already implementing nationwide martial law by deploying additional military and police troops to Negros and Samar islands as well as the Bicol region.

As the midterm poll nears, both the AFP and PNP are strengthening their efforts through the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee – a body supervised by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to establish greater inter-operability in addressing security concerns during the election period – to prevent extortion activities of the NPA and neutralize private armed groups.

“That is why my order to Army troops in Negros is to attack the NPA before they do something violent,” said Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

Arevalo said he anticipates that the NPA, who may also act as private armed goons, will terrorize candidates in the election to force them to give in to their extortion demands.

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil, Negros Occidental provincial police director, also said they are anticipating the NPA to impose “permit to campaign” fees on local and national candidates in exchange for safe passage.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana explained that the decision to send more security forces to the Bicol region and the Visayas is aimed at nipping the resurgence of the NPA’s lawlessness.

“We have a lot of enemies there. Those places are critical areas where the NPAs exercises some sort of control, especially during elections,” he said.

Bicol, Samar and Negros were previously the hotbed of the communist insurgency in the early 1970s to the late 80s.

Lorenzana assured the public that the Duterte administration is not planning to place the entire country under martial rule, saying “the President has already said that he will not declare martial law all over the country.”

He added that those who will be sent to the three areas are ordered to strictly observe the highest discipline while performing their mandated duties. – With Gilbert Bayoran, Jaime Laude