Martial law not on Marcos’ mind; economy is priority – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Implementing martial law is not on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s mind, following the reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC), the Palace said on Tuesday.

READ: Marcos reorganizes NSC, removes VP as member due to irrelevance

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the pronouncement in response to former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who accused Marcos of following his father’s footsteps in gearing for the return of martial law.

“I don’t think it is in the mind of the President right now. What he has in mind is the economic prosperity of the country, the health and welfare of the people especially those of the lower classes, and the prioritization of his legacy projects,” said Bersamin in a press conference.

“The President accepts that as the number one concern. It’s not about martial law; it’s not about extending himself in power – no, he has no thinking about that, he does not even think in those terms,” he added.

Bersamin then called Roque’s insinuation that Marcos intends to impose martial law “malicious,” adding that the Constitution is already “very clear” about when a President may declare martial law.

In the same briefer, Bersamin also defended the exclusion of Vice President Sara Duterte from the NSC, stating that Marcos has the right to do so.

“The President has the right, as well as the responsibility of seeing to it that whoever advises him is within his fullest trust and confidence,” said Bersamin.

“Now, I’m not saying that the Vice President does not anymore deserved to be trusted. But I’m just saying that with the recent developments, it is not going to be good advice or good action on the part of the President to still have her onboard,” he added.

He then maintained that Marcos, as the President, has the “power of absolute reorganization.”

Bersamin then reiterated that the Vice President has ceased to be relevant as far as the responsibilities of that membership in the National Security Council is concerned.

All this developed after Marcos issued Executive Order 81, which reorganized the NSC and removed the Vice President and past presidents from the council. This move irked several former officials, especially allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.