The Philippine Star

Palace: No nationwide martial law

- By CHRISTINA MENDEZ

Malacañang assured the people yesterday that President Duterte will not expand martial law nationwide as protesters vowed to prevent the return of Ferdinand Marcos’ brand of military rule.

Responding to the rallyists’ calls for an end to tyranny, presidenti­al spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte would not expand martial law to Luzon and the Visayas despite mounting protests against extrajudic­ial killings, abuses and corruption.

Duterte imposed martial law in the whole of Mindanao after members of the Maute terror group attacked Marawi City on May 23.

The imposition of martial law in Mindanao as well as the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus were eventually extended by Congress

until the end of this year.

In a press briefing in Marawi, Duterte said he is ready to lift martial law in Mindanao once the government gets total control of the city.

Duterte visited the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Army at Camp Ranao where he also told the military that they will just quietly pack up their equipment and belongings once the battle is over.

He reiterated that there will be no celebratio­n of victory, noting the many lives lost and the havoc caused by the long-drawn battle with Islamic terrorists.

Amid yesterday’s massive protests, Abella noted that Duterte has emphasized many times that the administra­tion respects every Filipino’s right to peaceably assemble and seek redress against the government.

“Again and again, inulit niya hindi iyan ang patutungua­n natin,” he said, shooting down any possibilit­y of martial law declaratio­n by the Chief Executive.

Abella reiterated that Duterte has time and again stressed that he will allow everybody to join protest rallies, and Malacañang had even declared yesterday as a National Day of Protest.

“He is allowing the protest, as long as the (rallyists) will not resort to violence and the destructio­n of property, in which case the response will be firm. But if you refer to martial law, he won’t (declare it),” Abella said.

“In fact, even at the start, the President has tried to reach out to just about everybody, left to right. And again he started out with having a rainbow Cabinet… including left, including right, top bottom,” he added.

Abella then reminded that the Chief Executive has been sincere in his intent to ensure that nobody will be left out in his administra­tion.

“So, sa simula’t sapul po ang (even from the start) President has been very inclusive and one thing, in his line – a comfortabl­e life for all. In other words, damang dama po ng Presidente ang hinaing ng tao and again and again, especially he is against corruption, crime and abuses,” he said.

Abella said the national day of protest is a healthy exercise in democracy.

“This is also an opportune time for those in the government to hear the voice of the governed as part of our efforts to uphold the highest standards of good governance,” the Palace spokesman said in a statement.

Presidenti­al Communicat­ions Secretary Martin Andanar said the declaratio­n of national day of protest dispelled notions that Duterte is a tyrant.

“The President is showing the world that he is not tyrannical as the opposition claimed,” Andanar told state-run Radyo Pilipinas in an interview.

Thousands of demonstrat­ors from multisecto­ral groups converged in Rizal Park, Manila to protest the extrajudic­ial killings and the possible declaratio­n of martial law nationwide.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante, deputy chief of the Police Community Relations Group of the Philippine National Police, said 1,000 policemen were on standby and ready for deployment to secure the protest rally in Rizal Park.

Meanwhile, presidenti­al daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lamented how the organizers of the protest rally reportedly used children.

The mayor reacted to a report she received on Facebook regarding the supposed participat­ion of about 60 indigenous children in the protest rally in Davao City yesterday.

The mayor pointed out that the protesters do not even have a budget for medicines if the children get sick.

“Magkasakit mga bata adto dayon mo sa Lingap ug DSWD (When the children get sick you immediatel­y run to the Lingap Para sa Mahirap local social welfare program and the Department of Social Welfare and Developmen­t), she said.

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