Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he supports the declaration of a national state of emergency as long as there is an assurance that it will not be abused.

Leonardia said many people are debating about Proclamation No. 1017, especially because there is no precedent to it.

"But I believe the State should have that necessary tool to protect itself because it cannot be sure if the people are in unity all the time," he said. If the State has no mechanism to defend itself, IT can never be stabilized every time a group of people or rebels decide to take over, he added.

On the other hand it might be a necessity that has to be done in order that the nation can move forward, Leonardia said. It is our country that is going to really suffer if this kind of political atmosphere continues, he said.

Leonardia asked the people to respect the duly constituted authorities. "I suggest to those who may want to take over to wait for the proper time since there is an election coming," he said. "I hope there will be a ceasefire for now," he added.

Leonardia said that what everybody should work for together is putting stability back in our nation. Until the time we get a sense of stability in the country, other investors will not consider us, he said. We have to think in terms of our competitiveness, he said, and if we are perceived as not able to put out acts together, that will eventually damage us.

Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino, in a phone interview, yesterday said he believes Proclamation No. 1017 will be lifted within this week. There was already a move to lift it yesterday if not for the incident at Fort Bonifacio, he said.

Tolentino said the incident at Fort Bonifacio, which he called internal differences among senior marine officers, should not be taken advantage of other parties or organizations with hidden agenda or hidden interest.

Leonardia, meanwhile, said he heard others give opinions that former presidents should act as such, and not like incumbent presidents, referring to former President Cory Aquino's presence in rallies and at Fort Bonifacio. They are entitled to their opinion but they should not agitate the people, he said.

Asked about the President's declaration of a national state of emergency, Leonardia suggested that the administration hold a serious and thorough dialog with the media.

"That is a matter which is very sensitive because, ideally, there should be self-regulation within the media ranks," Leonardia said.

He said there are regulatory bodies like the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas which has been in consultation with the authorities. However, not all media entities are members of it, he added.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said he was invited to attend the meeting at the Capitol Sunday on the tentative visit of the President to the province on March 9.

"I think it will be about the matter of getting the people on the side of the President in so far as the thrust of the Charter Change is concerned," he said.

Leonardia said the meeting was attended by almost all the Congressmen in Negros. He said there was no loyalty check made, and neither did they discuss Proclamation 1017.*CGS

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