Duterte to use Cha-cha to become dictator – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman warned the nation yesterday that President Duterte would use his initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha) to become a dictator like the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

Lagman issued the warning in the wake of Duterte’s statement that he wants the Constitution amended to scrap the provisions on congressional and judicial review of a martial law declaration.

The President and his congressional allies are pushing for Cha-cha to shift the nation to the federal system.

Lagman said Duterte’s statement on lifting limitation on and review of a martial law declaration has made the Cha-cha effort “dangerous.”

“We have a president who wants the legitimation of dictatorial powers. All initiatives to amend the Constitution must be consigned to the backburner to assure that the dismantling of congressional and judicial safeguards on the presidential declaration of martial law will not be realized,” he said.

“President Duterte’s unequivocal pronouncement for a return to a president’s absolute and sole authority to declare martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus betrays his authoritarian designs, which must never be constitutionalized,” he said.

Lagman stressed that congressional and judicial review of a martial law proclamation and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus “were mandated in the 1987 Constitution to preclude abuses curtailing civil and political rights like the unrestrained imposition of martial law without time limit.”

He pointed out that the Charter vests Congress and the Supreme Court with the power to revoke a martial law proclamation and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

For his part, deputy speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said the President’s statement “did not mean that he intends to declare martial rule.”

He said Duterte was just picturing a situation where martial law is needed but the hands of the government are tied by congressional and judicial intervention.

He said he supports the “employment of extraordinary solutions in extraordinary situations like when there is unabated lawless violence and rebellion.”

Even Vice President Leni Robredo has raised concern over Duterte’s martial law statement.

The Cha-cha effort of administration allies will shift into high gear starting the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) rejects any suggestions or proposals to change the Constitutional safeguards on the declaration of martial Law. – With Rhodina Villanueva