Duterte to be harsh vs terrorists with martial law declaration

May 24, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he would be harsh against terrorists with his declaration of martial law in Mindanao. In an interview before leaving Russia where he cut short his official visit, Duterte said the martial law that he declared in the entire island of Mindanao would "not be any different from what President (Ferdinand) Marcos did." During his regime, Marcos placed the entire Philippines under martial law from 1972 until early 1980s. He also suspended the writ of habeas corpus and warrantless arrests were enforced. Thousands of Filipinos perished and tortured even by mere suspicion that they were enemies of the state. "To my fellowmen, do not be too scared. I’m going home. I’m cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen and I will deal with the problem when I arrive," Duterte said. "But let me just tell everybody that I have declared martial law in  Mindanao. How long? Well, if it would take a year to do it, then we will do it. If it’s over within a month, then I’d be happy," he said. "But martial law is martial law. So, my fellowmen, you have experienced martial law, it would not be any different from what President Marcos did. I’ll be harsh," he said as he recalled what he mentioned during the campaign last year when asked how he would deal with terrorism. "I said I will be harsh. What I said to all, do not force my hand to do it. I have to do it to preserve the Republic of the Philippines," the president said. Before he left Moscow, Duterte had a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kremlin. Duterte was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go. If he did not cut short his trip, the two leaders were supposed to hold the bilateral meeting and to witness the signing of several agreements between the two countries on May 25. Celerina Monte/DMS