Rody to defy judiciary over project delays

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has warned the judiciary that he would defy the courts if they delay implementation of government projects, even if ignoring court decisions would trigger a constitutional crisis.

Duterte said losing bidders and the rich are going to the courts to secure temporary restraining orders (TROs) that hamper state projects and the recovery of government properties.

He threatened to ask the police and sheriffs to defy the courts and follow his orders if TROs continue to prevent the government from rolling out projects.

“I said do not wait for me. If I’m pissed off, di ko kayo susundin (I will defy you). Ganunin ko ’yang papel ’yan, itapon ko sa mukha mo (I will crumple that paper and throw it in your face),” the President told about 900 members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong on Saturday.

“Bastusin kita diyan sa harap ng tao (I will disrespect you in front of people)… You delay the projects, we will appear to be powerless and our projects will not be completed because of your TRO and it will appear that we did not do anything. Do not do it now because we will have a problem.

“Kung sabihin ko tuloy sa pulis at sherif p***** i** huwag kayo maniwala diyan. Dito kayo sumunod sa akin (What if I tell the police and sheriff s** of a b**** do not believe that. Follow me),” he added.

Duterte said some losing bidders, whom he described as “animals,” file charges so they could extort money from the winning bidder.

“That’s business. They will join the bidding even if they know that they will lose,” he added.

Duterte also raised the possibility of a constitutional crisis if the court stops the government from recovering a Makati property now being controlled by owners of a broadsheet.

The President has repeatedly accused the Philippine Daily Inquirer of biased reporting but the newspaper maintained that it adheres to the highest standards of journalism.

“I’m warning the judiciary, huwag ninyong paabutin na hindi na ako maniwala sa inyo (do not reach the point when I no longer believe in you) because that would really be a constitutional crisis,” he added.

Duterte said the Supreme Court has ruled that state-run Philippine National Railways owns the Mile Long property in Makati but the decision remains unimplemented. He claimed that the property was given by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos to the Rufino family.

“Maybe they only paid one peso for it. Then Rufino married the owner (of Inquirer), Prieto,” Duterte said.

Duterte also claimed that the Inquirer owners are still collecting rent from the property even if the lease agreement has expired.

“The Supreme Court had to intervene because they do not want to let go (of the property). They keep on collecting (rent) and they do not want to turn over the property,” he added.

Duterte also accused the Prietos and Rufinos of “forum shopping” in courts to stop the government from recovering the Makati property.

Duterte dangles martial law

Duterte dangled the prospect of martial law again as he warned the courts against delaying government projects.

“Gusto niyo ng... kung ayaw mo ng ganun, martial law, maganda nga mag-martial law (You want... if you don’t want that, martial law. It’s good to have martial law),” he said.

He later clarified that he would not resort to the extreme measure associated with the Marcos dictatorship.

“Many are saying ‘Duterte will declare martial law, a dictator.’ Susmaryosep (Oh my God), if you are asking me if I’m very happy being president? Am I inordinately proud of being president? I’ll give you an answer. It’s not something for me at this time of my life. I should not have really,” Duterte said.

In December, Duterte said that martial law is “stupid” as it did not do anything to improve the lives of Filipinos during the Marcos regime. But Duterte brought up the possibility of declaring it in his previous speeches.

Last August, Duterte chided Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for supposedly meddling in his war on illegal drugs and threatened to declare martial law if she continues to interfere.

He, however, apologized to Sereno for what he described as “harsh words that were unintended.” Two months later, Duterte said that there were times that he was tempted to declare martial law because of the security issues besetting the country.

Duterte hits Lopezes, bishops

Duterte also assailed ABS-CBN for its supposedly slanted coverage of him, saying he no longer has respect for the television network.

He accused the network of not airing his political advertisement even if he already paid for airtime.

“Pera-pera lang talaga ’yan, maniwala ka (It’s just about money. Believe me),” Duterte said.

ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III said allegations of bias are “part and parcel of the network’s work as a media institution.”

Duterte also recalled the time when the Lopez group talked to him about its plan to offer Sky Cable in Davao City, where he served as mayor for more than 23 years.

He said Lopez asked him whether he was a stockholder of Sky Cable in the city and he replied in the negative.

“Sinasali-sali niyo ang pangalan ko diyan, for protection lang ’yan (You included my name there for protection),” Duterte said.

The President said Lopez had wanted to take over Sky Cable in Davao City. He then asked the group to talk to the owners of the local cable provider.

“They said ‘you are the mayor, we might encounter difficulties.’ I said ‘Where is your application?’” Duterte said, adding that he eventually approved the application submitted by the Lopez group.