President Rodrigo Duterte makes a closed fist gesture during his final Sona. Screenshot from RTVM youtube live
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday suggested that his successor should declare martial law if he or she wants to reform the government and rid it of corruption.
The suggestion was made after the President again claimed that nobody could eradicate corruption across the bureaucracy.
“Corruption is endemic in government. You cannot stop corruption, nobody can stop corruption unless we overturn the government completely,” Duterte said in his final State of the Nation Address.
“If I were the next president if you think there is a need for you to change everybody in the system, then you declare martial law,” he added.
But under the 1987 Constitution, the President may only proclaim martial law in case of foreign invasion and rebellion when public safety requires it.