Duterte ‘might declare’ nationwide martial law
THE ENTIRE Philippines might be placed under martial law if Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorist groups reach Visayas and Luzon, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Wednesday, as he warned anew of a “harsh” response against extremists.
“Let me just tell everybody that I have declared Martial law for Mindanao. How long? It would take a year to do it, then we will do it,” Mr. Duterte said in a taped statement released by Malacañang’s Assistant Secretary Margaux J. Uson on Wednesday.
“If it’s over a, within a month, I will be happy,” the President added.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella first announced the planned martial-law declaration in a press conference in Moscow, saying Mr. Duterte made the decision “as of 10:00 p.m.” after meeting advisers to discuss the situation in Marawi City.
The declaration will last for 60 days and the details of the proclamation “will be forthcoming,” Mr. Abella said.
Martial law is a sensitive topic in the Philippines because it was used by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to stay in power for another 14 years, completing two decades by the time he was overthrown in 1986 by a “People Power” revolution.
According to Mr. Duterte, his declaration of martial law in Mindanao “would not be any different” from Mr. Marcos’s. “Martial law is martial law,” he said.
“I would be harsh,” Mr. Duterte said. “I have to do it to preserve the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people” — the same rationale by Mr. Marcos in 1972, a year before his and second and last term as President was supposed to end.
Clashes between government forces and the Maute group erupted May 23 in Marawi City after the military raided an apartment to serve IS leader Isnilon Hapilon a warrant of arrest.
At least five soldiers were hurt in the firefight with Hapilon’s forces, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Fighting continued through the night.
Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, who joined Mr. Abella in the media briefing, confirmed that militants have occupied some establishments in Marawi City such as Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Marawi’s city hall, and the city jail.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said on its Web site that the militants took hostage Father “Chito” Suganob “and others” from the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and threatened to kill them should government operations continue.
Some buildings were also set on fire by the terrorists, including schools and the Saint Mary’s Church, according to Mr. Lorenzana, who noted that the militants had “a lot of sympathizers in Marawi City.”
“Now, no civilians are roaming around; they are only in their houses. There are several houses that were also burned surrounding the other facilities that were burned. That is all that we can give you at the moment,” the Defense chief added.
Asked why the entire Mindanao had to be covered if clashes have so far been confined to Marawi, Mr. Lorenzana said the government also needs to confront “some problems” in other areas in the southern Philippine island, including extortion by communist fighters in Region 11.
The option to declare martial law in Mindanao has become a frequent theme of Mr. Duterte’s impromptu speeches apart from his war on narcotics.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President can place the country or any part of it under martial rule for a period “not exceeding” 60 days to prevent or suppress “lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.”
The chief executive needs to inform Congress within 48 hours of the bases for his decision so lawmakers can vote to approve, revoke or extend the declaration.
The Constitution also allows the Supreme Court to review the proclamation of martial law if any citizen challenges the “sufficiency of the factual basis of the declaration,” and must decide on it within 30 days from its filing.
‘SHOOT TO KILL’
“If I think that the ISIS has already taken control also in Luzon, and terrorism is not really far behind, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people,” Mr. Duterte said in a media interview yesterday upon his return from Russia.
Meanwhile, the writ of habeas corpus — the judicial remedy to ensure the rights of the detained — is likewise suspended in Mindanao, the President also said. But he assured there will be “no abuses” in the military’s part.
Warrantless arrests, checkpoints, and searches will also be “allowed” in Mindanao, Mr. Duterte added.
“If you confront government with violence, and anyone caught possessing a gun, my orders are shoot to kill,” he said.
“I will not allow the country to go to the dogs. As I said, the military has the primary role now to keeping the law and order situation in all parts of the Republic of the Philippines.”
RUSSIA’S HELP
Mr. Duterte arrived in Moscow on May 22 for a four-day visit. He was supposed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia to help beef up Philippine defense, including acquiring precision-guided bombs to use against extremist groups.
In light of the unrest in Marawi, however, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in the same briefing in Moscow that Mr. Duterte will be cutting short his stay in Russia.
“The physical presence of the President is needed in the Philippines. That is the President’s assessment. And his priority is always the protection and of each of every Filipino,” Mr. Cayetano said.
Nonetheless, Mr. Duterte’s second bilateral meeting with his “idol,” Russian President Vladimir Putin, pushed through on Tuesday, and he asked his Russian counterpart’s help in combatting IS-linked bandits.
“I am sorry if I am in a hurry but I need to buy [weapons]. If you can grant me a soft loan, we’ll... pay it right away because the arms that we ordered from America [ were] cancelled,” Mr. Duterte told Mr. Putin.
“Please consider us as a good friend. I came to visit your place and it’s to establish stronger bilateral relations... I come to seek your friendship,” Mr. Duterte added.
In response, Mr. Putin told Mr. Duterte that he is “so happy” to see the Filipino leader in Moscow. He also said he “definitely understands” Mr. Duterte’s unplanned return to Manila.
“I have to express our condolences as a matter of fact, loss of lives of your people happened because of a horrible terrorist attack,” Mr. Putin said.
“Let me express hope that the conflict that you have just mentioned will be resolved as soon as possible and with minimal losses and casualties,” he added.
In Manila, Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo declined to give her opinion on martial law in Mindanao, preferring to wait until Mr. Duterte makes an official declaration.
“Kung ano iyong kinakailangang gawin para, una, sabi po ng liderato ng AFP kanina, iyong pinakagusto nilang mangyari ngayon, ito iyong pinaka- target nila, ma- normalize ulit iyong sitwasyon sa Marawi. So ano iyong kinakailangan para mangyari iyon, susuportahan natin, at hinihikayat natin ang lahat na sumuporta din ( Whatever it is that needs to be done, like the AFP leadership said earlier, what they want the most, what they are targeting, is to normalize the situation in Marawi. So whatever it is that is needed, let us support them, and we encourage everyone to support them, too)” she said, joining a briefing by the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday morning.
At the House of Representatives, legislators were advised to stay in Manila as they await the official report that Mr. Duterte is expected to file on his intended martial-law proclamation in Mindanao.
“All Members are advised to stay put in Manila. Under our Rules, our sessions are until Friday. The President will head back home ASAP (the party is now at the Moscow airport) and we may have session as soon as we receive his official report,” Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas said in a statement Wednesday morning.
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