‘No reason to declare martial law, says Panelo

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has the option to declare martial law but there is no imminent reason to declare it right now, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo reiterated yesterday.

He said the President, who considers the drug problem a threat to national security, is merely giving a warning to illegal drug operators and users.

Panelo doused fears that there is an imminent reason for the declaration of martial law even if Duterte has been vocal about his serious concerns about the millions of drug users and the huge number of narco-politicians, barangay captains and police generals included in the presidential narco-list.

“It is not a threat or an advance announcement of an imminent exercise of an emergency power, rather it is a warning to those who are bent on destroying the fabric of society that President Duterte will not watch in utter helplessness in its destruction,” the palace official said in the wake of a call by senators for the Chief Executive to just shut his mouth on martial law.

Panelo added that the President’s statement is “also an assurance to the people that he will not equivocate in using a constitutional power to preserve the integrity and survival of the nation.”

 The palace communications team led by Secretary Martin Andanar earlier blamed the media for “misreporting” the President who revealed his views anew on imposing martial law during his attendance at a gathering of Davao businessmen last week.

 In a bid to cushion the impact of the President’s statements, Panelo said it was a mere “dramatic” and “graphic presentation” of a presidential power granted him under the 1987 Constitution.

 “The President’s statement that he would declare martial law should the problem on the illegal drug trade become virulent – effectively threatening the existence of the institutions of the Republic, and putting in grave peril the integrity and survival of the nation – is but a dramatic and graphic presentation of an exercise of a presidential power and duty imposed on him by the Constitution,” Panelo said.

In his speech, Duterte lamented how the power to impose martial law was clipped when the 1987 Constitution was adopted during the Cory Aquino administration.

 He noted that a Philippine president can only declare martial law in case of invasion or rebellion, and that such power needs to be approved by Congress in 60 days. Concerned groups can also bring the matter before the Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of martial rule.

Duterte invoked that he may declare martial law in order to “preserve the nation” once the drug problem becomes “virulent.”

“You know, I have to protect the Filipino people. It’s my duty. And I’d tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it – not about invasion, insurrection; not about danger,” he said.

 “I will declare martial law to preserve my nation – period. I don’t care about the Supreme Court or… because the thing, the right to preserve one’s life and my nation, my country transcends everything else, even the limitation,” Duterte pointed out.

Duterte parried criticisms, saying the declaration can be made if it is needed to “preserve the nation.”

 “And l will just say, why are you declaring martial law? Because I have to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land. That’s what I said,” he added.