H Bayan-Negros yesterday said it strongly condemns the secret Executive Order 467 that allows the takeover of privately-owned businesses, its secretary general Felipe Levy Gelle said yesterday.

"Such draft order confirms the preparation for declaring martial law," Gelle said yesterday.

However, Malacañang again denied in a statement yesterday reports about the alleged existence of a draft executive order placing the country under martial law, and accused detractors of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of fanning "phantom fears" of emergency rule.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye explained that EO 467 pertains to the strengthening and streamlining of the operations of the Land Regulatory Authority.

"The political detractors of the President have become agents of paranoia. Let us not waste television and radio airtime and newspaper space on their phantom fears," he said.

Neither has the President asked the Department of Justice to draft an EO imposing martial law or any emergency rule, nor is the declaration of martial law being contemplated at this time, Bunye said.

He said the present situation is under control and the President has enough powers under existing laws to handle the country's problems.

It's clear that the President has not directed (Justice) Secretary Raul Gonzalez to prepare a draft Executive Order on martial law, nor has he submitted one," Bunye claimed.*

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