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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte on declaring martial law: just shooting the breeze

Duterte on declaring martial law: just shooting the breeze

Published Jul 13, 2020 12:28 am
  By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS President Duterte yesterday said that he was just "shooting the breeze" with the local chief executives in Mindanao about declaring martial law. However, the President appealed to the local government officials to help him deter lawlessness in Mindanao because martial law will not do anything good. "I am just shooting the breeze with them. Sabi ko (I said), 'please let me not do it. You have to help me. I do not want to do it because it is not good,'" Duterte said in an ambush interview in Davao City when asked if he would give the local government officials a time frame. With martial law, the chief executive said him, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would have supreme authority over Mindanao, stripping the local chief executive of their powers. "Mahirap ‘yang ganon because meron tayong legitimate structure eh, ‘yung local government. Pero (That is difficult because we have a legitimate structure which is the government but), when it is rendered inoperable, inutile, patay na (we have no choice)," he said. Duterte on Thursday night threatened the local chief executives in Mindanao that he will declare martial law in Mindanao if they will not help him deter criminality, violence, terrorism, and drugs in Mindanao. "Either tulungan niyo ako or I will declare martial law tomorrow for Mindanao," he said in his roughly one-hour speech. However, after his speech, Duterte clarified with reporters that he does not want to reach that point so he asked the local government officials for their help. But if things spin out of control, Duterte said he is left with no choice but to exercise extraordinary powers. "Yes, if things go out of control and violence has reached the level of total breakdown, I will. I will not hesitate," he told reporters. "But not like the declarations in Manila to perpetuate, korny ‘yan (That's corny). Wala akong ganong ambisyon (I don't have that kind of ambition). I’d be happy to leave the presidency anytime," he clarified, referring to the martial law during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos. According to Duterte, martial law would only open the doors of every house, the arrest of every person, and the detention of anyone and everyone. Duterte said he's problem in Mindanao is mainly terrorism and the "day-to-day" lawlessness which includes the planting of bombs in schools. "I cannot preside over the affairs of the country na ganon ang (if we have that kind of situation)—It would make me inutile," he said. On February 22, reports said a grade 7 student was killed while three others were injured when a bomb they were toying with exploded inside the Comprehensive National High School Campus in Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos) Read more: Duterte to Mindanao LGUs: Help deter lawlessness or I'll declare Martial Law
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