‘I will not declare martial law,’ Duterte stresses

President Rodrigo Duterte (File photo from an RTVM video)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday stressed that he would not declare a nationwide martial law.

Duterte made the remark after his Memorandum Order NO. 32, which called for the deployment of additional troops in Negros, Samar and Bicol region, had been criticized and tagged as a prelude to a declaration of martial law.

“Because there are really so many encounters there and I’m losing a lot of soldiers in ambush and everything,“ Duterte told reporters in an interview in Bohol when asked why he issued the order.

“You place troops where you think you need another force. I’m surprised why you’re so interested about deployment, when I’m supposed to take care of the security,” he added.

Duterte said that as President, he already possessed enough power to suppress lawless violence in the area.

“I told you, I will not declare martial law,” he said. “I’m not going to declare martial law there’s enough powers for the Presidency na magamit ko well kung talagang widespread violence, then maybe.”

“But I do not really need violence in the every corner of the Philippines to say that we are in danger but as the one in the office… I will do what is necessary, to preserve this nation and to protect the people. That is my oath of office,” he added.

However, the President said that he might also order the deployment of a “division-size” force in Jolo in Mindanao as violence there continued to take the lives of state troopers.

“Do not be surprised, but in Jolo I also express my dismay about the losses… There will be a division-size [deployment], talagang isang divsion ilagay ko not only a company, not only a battallion, not only a regiment, but I’m going to place there an entire division,” he said.

Duterte’s MO 32 has drew mixed reactions since it was issued last Friday. /atm

READ: Duterte sends more troops in Bicol, Samar, Negros vs ‘lawless violence’