Carpio: Duterte’s call for Mindanao secession ‘impossible, laughable’

MANILA, Philippines — The Mindanao secession call of former President Rodrigo Duterte is “impossible” and “laughable,” retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said.

“When you declare you want to secede, you may be serious, [but] to the audience, it’s laughable,” Carpio told reporters on the sidelines of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication’s (AIJC) event “Amplifying the True Narrative: West Philippine Sea” in San Juan.

“So, I think when Duterte said we must secede, the reaction was laughable because it’s just impossible,” he added.

READ: ‘Toxic relationship’ is why Mindanao should secede from sinking PH – former lawmaker 

Carpio said the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not allow any move to dismember the Philippines.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is tasked under the Constitution to secure the integrity of the national territory. They will be the first to oppose,” Carpio, a legal luminary, said.

READ: Lawmakers, ex-Muslim rebels reject Duterte call for secession

Carpio said he is confident that no government official in Mindanao who has no personal interest will support Duterte’s call.