3 of 4 INQUIRER.net readers disapprove Duterte’s martial law statement

SCREENGRAB FROM INQUIRER.net’s TWITTER ACCOUNT

Three of four INQUIRER.net Twitter poll respondents disapproved President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that he will declare martial law, if he wants to, “to preserve (the) nation.”

The poll ran for 24 hours starting Saturday, and asked the users to react to the President’s statement, “I will declare martial law if I want to preserve my nation.” Respondents may also reply to explain their vote.

Of the 1,451 participants, 75 percent of the respondents said that they “agree,” while 25 percent said they “disagree.”

A Twitter user replied to the poll and said, “We know what Martial Law was like. Innocent people have died. Let’s not allow this to happen again. #NeverAgain.” User @KimTheIntrovert also supports the earlier claim and said, “Our nation was wounded when Marcos declared martial law.”

Another Twitter user said, “Only a psychopath dictator will think Martial Law will solve all the nation’s problem!!!”

Another netizen, however, sided with Duterte’s statement, saying, “For the purpose of preserving the nation. YES! I agree.”

Duterte on Saturday evening said that he will only declare martial law to preserve the nation if the situation turns virulent.

“I don’t care about the Supreme Court because the right to preserve one’s life and my nation, my country transcends everything else, even the limitations. If I want to and it will deteriorate into something really, really virulent, I will declare martial law if I want to. Walang makapigil sa akin (Nobody can stop me),” Duterte added, speaking before the members of Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Davao.

READ: Duterte: I will declare martial law if I want to preserve my nation

The President can declare martial law in case of invasion, insurrection, or rebellion, under the 1987 Constitution, but after 60 days, Congress must decide on granting an extension if sought.

A recent survey by Pulse Asia also showed that majority of Filipinos do not find the need to impose martial law to solve the problems being faced by the country now. In its survey from Dec. 6 to 11 last year, 74 percent of 1,200 respondents disagreed with the test statement: “Candidly speaking, it may be necessary now to have martial law to solve the many crises of the nation.”

READ: Most Filipinos find martial law unnecessary—Pulse Asia

The President has gone back-and-forth in his pronouncements on the issue.

Last month, Duterte appeared to rule out the possibility of a martial law declaration, “That’s nonsense. We had martial law before, what happened? Did it improve our lives now? Not at all,” he said.

INQUIRER.net Twitter poll is not a scientific survey. It is an interactivity tool that can, within its limits, reflect the interests of online readers. IDL/rga