Sen. Panfilo Lacson. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Screen grab)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson has one assurance to the public should he be elected as president of the country in next year’s national elections: No martial law under his leadership.
Lacson made the remark after he was asked in a press forum if he will declare martial law under his leadership as a known “disciplinarian.”
“’Yan ang pwedeng itaga sa bato… Dun sa martial law, hindi mangyayari (You can cast it in stone… Martial law won’t happen),” Lacson said.
One of Lacson’s competitors for the presidency is former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Marcos Sr. has been hit for the number of human rights abuses following his declaration of martial law.
Meanwhile, in his final State of the Nation Address back in July, President Rodrigo Duterte 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.
But under the 1987 Constitution, the president may only proclaim martial law in case of foreign invasion and rebellion when public safety requires it.