Duterte’s threat of martial law recalls Marcos rule

Measure for drug war is ‘to preserve the Filipino people’

MANILA // Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to impose martial rule to prosecute his deadly war on drugs, three decades after the nation shed dictatorship with a “People Power” revolt.

“If I wanted to, and it [ the illegal drugs problem] will deteriorate into something really very virulent, I will declare martial law if I wanted to. No one will be able to stop me,” Mr Duterte said on Saturday.

The former state prosecutor, 71, said the aim would be “to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land”.

Mr Duterte won elections last May on a pledge to wipe out illegal drugs, promising an unprecedented crackdown to stop the Philippines from becoming what he termed a “narco state”.

The crackdown has killed at least 5,700 people in about six months, raising concerns of a breakdown in the rule of law as security forces and vigilantes have been carrying out extrajudicial killings.

The Philippines’ long- time ally, the United States, has led international criticism of the killings, with president Barack Obama urging Mr Duterte to prosecute his war the right way.

Mr Duterte reacted furiously to the criticism and vowed to continue his war until illegal drugs were eradicated. He has previously raised the prospect of imposing martial law. His comments on Saturday were, however, the most direct threat.

Martial rule would allow Mr Duterte to use the military to enforce civilian law and detain people at length without charging them.

The Philippines last endured martial law during the 20-year rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing widespread human rights abuses.

Marcos declared martial law in 1972, invoking the threats of crime and a communist insurgency, and lifted it in 1981.

His rule ended in 1986, when millions took to the streets in the largely bloodless military- backed “People Power” uprising.

A new constitution drawn up in 1987 in an effort to avoid another dictatorship specified a single six-year presidential term.

It also said the president could impose martial rule for only 60 days and only to stop an invasion or a rebellion.

Parliament can revoke the measure within 48 hours while the supreme court can review its legality.

Mr Duterte, speaking to local businessmen in his southern hometown of Davao City, warned that he could ignore the limit.

“The 60-day limit will be gone,” he said. “And I’d tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it – not about invasion, insurrection, not about danger. I will declare martial law to preserve my nation, period.”

Mr Duterte also said on Saturday that he had ordered the military to kill Abu Sayyaf militants who had been on a kidnap-for-ransom spree, even if hostages would also be killed.

“They say, ‘ What about the hostage?’ Sorry, collateral damage. Then if they are blasted every day, that kidnapping would stop, or, at least, places us in a very – and into a parity – so better not get yourselves kidnapped,” he said. The Abu Sayyaf group has gained millions of dollars from kidnappings for ransom.

‘ If I have to declare martial law, I will declare it Rodrigo Duterte Philippines president