WHAT WENT BEFORE: Martial law in Mindanao

Since August last year, President Duterte has warned at least five times that he would declare martial law and on one occasion said he wanted to amend the Constitution to make it easier for any president to  impose military rule.

On May 23, Mr.  Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for 60 days, after pro-Islamic State fighters swept through Marawi City.

On July 22, Congress passed a resolution extending martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year.

Aug. 9, 2016 – Mr. Duterte scoffed at Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s order to judges in his “narcolist” not to yield to authorities unless a warrant was issued against them. He raised the possibility of declaring martial law in case of a conflict between the executive and the judiciary.

“You’re interfering (with my job),” he said in front of troops in Cagayan de Oro City. “Please, don’t order me. I’m not a fool. If this continues, (that) you’re trying to stop me, I might lose my cool. Or would you rather I declare martial law?”

Dec. 22, 2016 – Mr. Duterte said he wanted the martial law provisions in the Constitution amended to remove the requirement of legislative and judicial review.

Jan. 14, 2017 – Mr. Duterte said  he would impose martial law to preserve the country and nobody could stop him.

“I tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it … to preserve my nation, period,” Mr. Duterte told members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

March 9, 2017 – President Duterte threatened to declare martial law in Mindanao. Malacañang said this was intended to push local officials to do more to combat lawlessness.

“Either you help me or I declare martial law tomorrow [in] Mindanao,” he said.

March 23, 2017 – Mr. Duterte warned he might  impose martial law and suspend barangay elections, fueling concerns about the future of democracy under his rule.

“If I declare martial law, I will finish all the problems, not just drugs,” Mr. Duterte told reporters in a predawn briefing on his return from a visit to Thailand.

Sept. 9, 2017  – Mr. Duterte said he would declare martial law nationwide if communist rebels took their rebellion to the streets.

“I will not hesitate to impose martial law all throughout the country and order the arrest of everybody,” he told reporters in Cagayan de Oro. —COMPILED BY INQUIRER RESEARCH

Sources: Inquirer Archives