Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo ’Ping’ Lacson on Saturday, Feb. 12 reassured Filipinos that the elements of democracy would be preserved and protected under his administration as he rejected outright thoughts and concerns about bringing back the dark days of martial law.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his campaign rally at the Lorenzo National High School in Mawab, Davao de Oro, Lacson said imposing military rule or going the authoritarian route never crosses his mind because he still believes in democracy.

“Ah, wala, wala. (Oh, no, no.) Definitely, democracy will be preserved. Walang (No) martial law, walang (no) dictatorship,” Lacson categorically stated when asked if such developments would be possible under his government.

The chairman of Partido Reporma party explained further that the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which was enacted after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship, already established certain guidelines on when to declare martial law that has essentially made it almost non-existent.

“In the first place, ang (the) martial law (is already) defined na sa (under the) Constitution at may limitasyon ang deklarasyon ng (and the declaration) martial law (has its limitations) as if there is no martial law,” Lacson told reporters.

“Kasi, first, 60 days lang, ano—i-va-validate ng Congress. Pagkatapos the Bill of Rights are well-entrenched. Hindi magagalaw. Hindi pwedeng mang-aresto ng maski sino maski merong martial law (Because it is only limited to a period of 60 days upon the validation of Congress. Also, the Bill of Rights is well-entrenched. It won’t be touched. You cannot arrest just anyone even if there is a state of martial law),’’ he explained.

Article 7, Section 18 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution stated that martial law may only be proclaimed in cases of invasion or rebellion where public safety is in danger.

“A state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the Constitution, nor supplant the functioning of the civil courts or legislative assemblies, nor authorize the conferment of jurisdiction on military courts and agencies over civilians where civil courts are able to function, nor automatically suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus,” the Constitution declared.

Lacson has repeatedly announced that he plans to lead the country by enforcing strict discipline among government officials, employees, police and the military to prevent the abuses and corrupt practices that for years have been tolerated or even encouraged during past presidencies.

“Dapat talaga alisin, i-cleanse talaga ‘yung mga (We should really dismiss or cleanse ) of inept, corrupt, undisciplined officials and employees,” the presidential aspirant noted.

Lacson is running for president in the May 2022 elections in tandem with Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III with the goal of ending an era of bad governance and returning the kind of government that the people can trust by getting rid of the thieves plundering the nation’s coffers.