President Rodrigo Duterte. JIGGER JERUSALEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO
The militant lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc in Congress said President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark about martial law is just part of his rhetoric which should not be taken seriously.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, the Makabayan lawmakers, however, vowed to lead the front lines in opposing the administration should Duterte push through with his warning to declare martial law.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Duterte as a lawyer is aware of the constitutional limits of martial law.
“Nung pinakinggan ko pabalik-balik ang context, it’s more of a rhetorical outburst, dun sa probable perception niya sa letter ni Chief Justice Sereno (When I listened repeatedly to its context, it’s more of a rhetorical outburst, his probable perception of Chief Justice Sereno’s letter),” Zarate said.
Duterte issued the statement after Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno warned Duterte to respect the separation of powers among the branches of government when the President named judges allegedly linked to the illicit drug trade.
READ: Duterte threatens to declare martial law if SC thwarts drug war
“Ikaw ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw wala. Walang mga judges na nagpa-patrol ng daan. Walang mga sheriff ninyo na nanghuhuli,” Duterte said in a scathing speech against Sereno in Cagayan De Oro City on Tuesday.
(You are the kingpin in judiciary. I’m the President. I have the duty, you have none. There are judges patrolling the streets. Your sheriffs are not arresting criminals.)
“Please wag mo ako..hindi ako…di ako g***(Please don’t [test me]. I’m not foolish). If this continues, pigilin mo ako, sige pag nagwala (and you stop me), would you rather that I declare martial law?” he added.
READ: LOOK: Sereno letter to Duterte on linking judges to illegal drugs
Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said Duterte is a kind of person who would say one thing but do another.
“I’ve heard him say several times, he says a lot of things, often outrageous, shocking, but at the end, he does the right thing,” Tinio said.
“Sa palagay natin, wala namang malinaw na batayan para mag-deklara ng martial law. Iba yung salita sa aktuwal na gawa (We think there is no clear baisis to declare martial law. Saying is different from doing),” he added.
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the Makabayan bloc’s alliance with the majority coalition in the House of Representatives does not stop them from engaging with the administration and criticizing Duterte’s actions.
“While we support several policies and directions of the President, we are also in a constant engagement, we advise, we seek dialogue, we criticize and in fact, we never let go of our protests in the streets in terms of several policies being implemented by the President,” Casilao said.
“The important thing is, nandiyan tayo, hindi lang simpleng pumuna (we are here not just to critize) for no reasons at all. We should criticize constructively and present alternatives,” he added.
Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus noted that Duterte may have committed a lapse in judgement in his outburst about martial law.
“Kahit sa pamantayan lang siguro ng good manners and right conduct, siguro naman may naging kalampasan… Sana napigilan niya yung sarili niya (In the standards of good manners and right conduct, he might have committed a lapse in judgement…He could have stopped himself),” De Jesus said.
Tinio said the Makabayan bloc would be at the forefront in opposing Duterte should he declare martial law.
“Kung mag-deklara ng martial law, we will be on the front lines. Ngayon palang naman, malinaw ung posisyon namin tutol sa anumang deklarasyon ng martial law. Malayong malayo ang sitwasyon para ma-justify ang anumang declaration ng martial law,” Tinio said.
(If martial law would be delcared, we will be on the front lines. Our position is clear now, we are against any declaration of martial law. The situation is far-off to justify any declaration of martial law.)
“Tututol tayo, kahit nasa majority kami (We will oppose although we are part of the majority), we will absolutely oppose declaration of martial law,” he added.
The Makabayan bloc also renewed their call to oppose giving a hero’s burial to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., whose regime under martial law was marred by human rights violations and whose excesses in power resulted in the amassing of ill-gotten wealth.
READ: Militant, minority solons oppose Marcos burial at Libingan
Tinio said Duterte’s remark about martial law is dangerous because the generation who has not experienced martial law might support the President’s declaration to impose martial rule.
“For me, it’s dangerous. Kaya dapat i-ugnay sa usapin ng Libingan ng mga Bayani. Nuong unang nag-declare ng martial law si Marcos, popular din… Kaya kailangan importanteng maipaliwanag muli kung bakit hindi dapat ilibing si Marcos, ano ang mga lessons nung martial law period,” Tinio said.
(For me, it’s dangerous. That’s why it should be connected to the issue of Libingan ng mga Bayani. When Marcos first declared martial law, it was popular also. That’s why it is important to explain again why Marcos should not be buried [at the heroes’ cemetery], the lessons of martial law period.)
READ: Lagman on Marcos burial: Libingan for heroes, not for plunderers
Deputy speakers in the House of Representatives have said Marcos deserves to be given a hero’s burial because of a law allowing former presidents to be buried at the national pantheon.
READ: House leaders: Marcos deserves hero’s burial as former President
Duterte has given the go-signal for Marcos’ heroes burial on September, fulfilling his campaign promise of putting an end to the issue that had divided the country.
Duterte said Marcos is qualified to be buried there as a former president and soldier. He also said he once voted for Marcos, and that his father worked for Marcos’ Cabinet.
READ: Duterte gives go-ahead for Marcos burial at Libingan—
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued a memorandum addressed to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya to make the necessary preparations and “coordinate closely with the Marcos family regarding the date of interment and the transport of the late former President’s remains from Ilocos Norte to the (Libingan ng mga Bayani).” RAM
READ: LOOK: Memo on burial of Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani