Senators weigh in on latest Martial Law threat

SENATORS ON Monday responded critically to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s remarks last Saturday warning anew of Martial Law, even as his communications secretary blamed the media once again for “misreporting” Mr. Duterte’s remarks.

Senate minority leader Ralph G. Recto said Mr. Duterte’s “bluster should be likened to a dog that always barks but seldom bites.”

“There’s no basis to declare Martial Law,” he said in a statement. “Rebellion has been tamed. No foreign army is steaming towards our shores to invade us. And as the President himself likes to brag, crime is down and the people are safe in their homes and communities.”

Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV for his part noted Pulse Asia’s recent survey on public sentiment against Martial Law.

“People are looking for new solutions and better ways of doing things and we, at the government owe it to the people to provide these better solutions,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement.

Critics of Mr. Duterte, a professed admirer of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos and his martial-law regime, have ridiculed the present leader for what they regard as his dated politics.

For his part, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV said of Mr. Duterte martiallaw threat: Martial Law

(He’s preparing for it, he wants to condition the minds of people that there will be Martial Law so that no one will be surprised when it happens).”

“All freedom-loving Filipinos should start preparing to fight another dictator. Soldiers should also start reviewing their constitutional mandate,” Mr. Trillanes also said.

But Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III played down Mr. Duterte’s remarks.

“Anyway, we are discussing a hypothetical situation,” said the Senate leader and son of Marcos rival Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., whom the late dictator jailed three times during Martial Law.

“Don’t worry about the Martial Law declaration,” Mr. Pimentel also said in part.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar slammed the media for “misreporting” Mr. Duterte’s remarks.“The President has categorically said no to Martial Law. He even made a pronouncement saying that Martial Law did not improve the lives of the Filipinos. We, therefore, decry the latest misreporting that the President will declare Martial Law simply ‘if he wants to’ or that ‘no one can stop the President from declaring Martial Law,’” Mr. Andanar said. “Such headlines sow panic and confusion to many. We consider this kind of reportage as the height of journalistic irresponsibility,” he added. —