MALASIQUI – Vice Gov. Oscar B. Lambino today threw his all-out support behind the decision of President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo to proclaim a state of emergency in the country because of the current coup d’ etat fears in Metro Manila.

He said the President issued Proclamation No. 1017 declaring a state of emergency because of an alleged destabilization effort by a few misguided elements of the military with the support of civilians and possibly members of the political opposition.

The issuance of the proclamation was called for by the current situation, Lambino stressed, adding that the declaration of the state of national emergency is guaranteed by the 1987 constitution.

It is only through the issuance of such an order that the President, as the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, can stop violence and bloodshed that may affect the people, he explained.

Lambino said the situation in Pangasinan and other province in the whole country remains normal. It is only in Metro Manila, he said, where the situation is somewhat explosive.

“But we hope this uneasy situation will be over soon because if it will continue, our economy will again suffer, our peso will again hit a new low against the dollar and investors will again shy away from the Philippines,” Lambino said.

Without intending to offend or bypass Gov. Victor Agbayani, Lambino said Pangasinan should stand squarely in support of President Arroyo and the Constitution.