Rody: Stop comparing me to Marcos

MANILA, Philippines - Critics should stop comparing him to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos despite his determination to keep martial law in effect in Mindanao at least until the end of the year, President Duterte said on Friday.

“I am not enamored with that martial law powers. Hindi ako ‘yung naa-atat-atat diyan na (I’m not the one aching for it). You suspect me just like Marcos beginning to – why do you have to refer to me (in the same breath as) Marcos?” Duterte said in remarks at a business forum in Davao City.

Duterte, who is open about his closeness to the Marcoses, said that while he does not want to judge the late strongman, he stressed it was wrong to compare him to the former leader.

“You judge me on my own. I’ve been mayor here for 23 years. I never stole one peso here. I have won all my elections here with a whopping majority until the presidency. Wala akong ninakaw dito (I didn’t steal anything),” he said.

“I don’t know. History has judged him little by little throughout the years,” he said, referring to Marcos whose stolen wealth runs to billions of pesos.

”I am 72 years old, what would I do with the money that I would steal? For example, the equal amount that was lost was 37 billion. What would I do with it? Wipe it on my a**? How many years do you think I can enjoy life?” Duterte said.

Duterte has repeatedly said he does not need the people’s consent if he wants to wield greater power to rule the country.

He also stressed he is ready to lift martial law ahead of the deadline he was pushing if and when threats from militants with links to ISIS are neutralized.

“If there is no more ISIS doing this thing, there is no more rebellion, what am I supposed to do with martial law? I get my salary with or without martial law. It doesn’t really bother me anymore. Ano ba ‘tong martial law,” he said.

 Speaking to the media Friday night on the eve of Congress’ special session, Duterte reiterated he is mandated by Constitution to protect the people.

Duterte explained extending martial law is a stop-gap measure aimed at preventing hostilities in Marawi from spilling over other parts of the country.

“So, it’s a way of you know, trying to control things, so they will not—if there is a spillage, it will not be as great as when you do not have this gaps stop—stop gaps,”  Duterte said

While claiming he can operate “with or without martial law,” Duterte said imposing one would give him powers to clamp down on extremists more swiftly

“I said, ‘I’ll just have to do my duty. It’s in my oath of office. I don’t need martial law.’ If you don’t like it, then we will just have to arrest persons because martial law gives me the power to arrest a person without a warrant,” Duterte said.

A lawyer, the President said he could actually cause the arrest of persons without warrant—in cases of continuing rebellion.

“Now ‘pag wala na ‘yan and if I have to arrest you without a warrant, I will arrest you without a warrant – with or without martial law. If I think that it is part of the war. If I believe in good faith na kasali ka sa rebelde, huhulihin kita (that you’re with the rebels. I will arrest you) with or without martial law,” he added.

More time needed

Asked why he wanted martial law extended by five months and not just 60 days, Duterte explained that eliminating or driving away the militants from Marawi should be followed by a massive rehabilitation of the ravaged city.

“Because I have to rehabilitate, then again the (threat of) retaliation. You know every space in Mindanao, there are always Moro and a Christian. The contamination of the ideology, nakita nilang patay might spur others to do the same,” he said.

“Mindanao specifically is a land of the mixed, kaya ako hindi masyadong kampante (so I can’t be complacent) because there will be mopping up operations,” Duterte said.

He added he was greatly worried about the hostilities spilling over to neighboring regions. “The boundary is a land boundary, it’s very porous – either you can go to Zamboanga and to Jolo and Basilan, and in the rest – even in Davao there are so many… here,” Duterte added.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella reiterated that serious security concerns warranted the extension of martial law for five months.

“We trust Congress to recognize the gravity of the situation and support the executive department in declaring that the factual and legal basis upon which martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus was upheld is continuing and still persists,” Abella said.

He explained that the primary objective of the extension “is to allow our forces to continue in their swift and decisive action in liberating Marawi.”

“As authorities follow through with their operations, they need to be on guard in preventing the spillover of lawlessness and violent extremism in other parts of Mindanao,” the Palace official said.