Environment groups have denounced the recent pronouncement of President Duterte to impose a "Martial Law power" to rid the country of illegal reclamation of esteros or canals that became one of the factors in the pollution of the Manila Bay.
For Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment, the President’s plan would affect the 25 million Filipinos living near the Manila Bay—from Bataan to Cavite—in a sense that all homes and open subdivisions must be destroyed to ensure unhampered dredging of connected waterways.
Meanwhile, Nilad Metro Manila Environmental Network stressed that instead of resorting to a “worrisome” suggestion to implement Martial Law-like orders, the country’s chief executive should “consult scientists and environmentalists” for the rehabilation of the Manila Bay.
“We question the motive of dangling the imposition of Martial Law as a model to rehabilitate Manila Bay,” the group said in a statement.
“Indeed, the task is daunting but we believe this can be achieved without resorting to authoritarian measures. Mobilize community stakeholders and the bureaucracy without deploying the army,” it added.
On Thursday night, Aug. 26, Duterte believed that the illegal reclamation of esteros or canals in the country has become so bad that a “Martial Law power” would be needed to solve it.
According to the him, a form of special authority would be needed to dredge and clear the esteros–including those that have been reclaimed by subdivisions–in a way that there is zero interruption from litigation.
“Alam mo hindi na ako maging Presidente (I may not be the President anymore), but you need another Martial Law power for a President someday to do this thing. Yung wala nang TRO , basta yung mali, kung ano yung original sa mapa, yun ang sundin (There would be no more TROs, whatever is wrong, whatever is on the original map, that’s what will be followed). Then this country could find a relief,” he said.