Confronted with the enormous problem of illegal drugs, President Duterte is prepared to declare Martial Law if the country’s situation becomes “virulent.”
In a speech before businessmen in Davao City last Saturday night, the President said no one can stop him from declaring Martial Law if only to preserve the nation.
“I have to protect the Filipino people. It’s my duty. And I 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,” the President said.
“If it deteriorate into something really very virulent, I will declare Martial Law if I wanted to. Walang makapigil sa akin,” said Duterte who has launched an aggressive anti-drug campaign since he assumed office.
Duterte is unfazed by the constitutional safeguards on the declaration of Martial Law that includes allowing the Supreme Court to review such proclamation based on any citizen’s petition.
“Wala akong pakialam diyan sa Supreme Court or – because the thing, the right to preserve one’s life and my nation, my country transcends everything else even the limitation,” he said during the oath taking ceremony of officials of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, after meeting the country’s mayors in a “lockdown,” Duterte intends to summon governors this week to seek their cooperation in the campaign against illegal drugs.
The President said he would ask governors to remind mayors and barangay captains to quit drug involvement or else face death.
“I’d be calling the governors sa next week. Sabihin ko talaga sa kanila, ‘You tell your barangay captains, may supervisory powers kayo and ‘yung mga cities under you, ‘yung hindi pa charter cities, you tell the mayors, reiterate to them,” the President said in a forum with businessmen in Davao City last Saturday night.
“But I would like to tell you, hindi ko kaya lecturan lahat ng ano. Huwag ka gyud magkumpiyansa sa akin, p***** i**, papatayin talaga kita. Believe me. Hahanapan kita ng ambush, lasunin kita,” he said.
Duterte vowed he would not back down from the campaign against illegal drugs despite criticisms and threats to overthrow him from office.
“Hindi ako aatras dito. If it causes my downfall, so be it,” he said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)