MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, June 7, denied that martial law is part of the “radical change” he will soon implement in the country.
“No, martial law is not feasible. It won’t work. It won’t work,” Duterte said in a media interview during the inauguration of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The President added that implementing a nationwide martial law will create a “divided nation.”
This statement came after Duterte on Wednesday mentioned martial law in a warning directed to “all,” including criminals, government officials, and even human rights groups.
“Well, remember that there is — there’s no difference actually between martial law and a declaration of national emergency. So I’ve been warning all. Lahat (Everyone). I’m warning all including the Human Rights, it’s either we behave or we will have a serious problem again,” Duterte said.
In his recent interview, Duterte defended that “in other countries, [a] national emergency is equated with martial law.”
He also said that he would not be declaring another state of emergency as there is still one in effect.
The President also recognized the “abuses committed” when the country was under martial law in 1972 until 1981, calling it “unbridled” and “unfettered.”
“That cannot happen in my time,” Duterte said, adding he will not allow anyone to oppress the public.
When asked to expound on the “radical change” he said is coming soon, Duterte explained that it would primarily deal with “fixing” government agencies.
“I have to fix the PNP,” Duterte said. “Masyado ang corruption (Corruption is prevalent), then I will deal with the local governments lalo na ‘yang (especially the) complacency and the nonchalant attitude towards the problem of criminality,” he said.
The president is also looking into directly placing some government agencies under his office.
“There might be some offices which are prone to corruption that will be placed directly under the Office of the President. Ako na ‘yung boss nila (I will become their boss),” he said.
Duterte, however, refused to name the agencies that will be under his direct supervision.
“Hindi ko pa nasabi. Kung sabihin ko ngayon masaktan ‘yung secretary na matatamaan (I haven’t said [which one]. If I would announce it now, the secretary [involved] would feel hurt),” he said.
“We have a Cabinet meeting coming up. I will also have my command conference and that will be the time that I would be ready to declare anything out of respeto sa kanila (respect to them),” he added.