MANILA – The martial law declared by dictator Ferdinand Marcos 46 years ago will not happen under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said this as the country commemorated yesterday Proclamation No. 1081 that placed the entire country under 24 years of military rule.
“Malabo talagang maulit po ang martial law ni Marcos dahil talagang ang 1987 Constitution po ay sinasabi, unang-una, hindi mo pu-puwedeng isarado ang Congress at mga hukuman maski na ikaw ay may martial law,” Roque said.
He added that the Congress and the courts have the power to invalidate the declaration of martial law if it has no actual basis.
Though Mindanao has been put under martial law, Roque said there is no reason to declare it in Luzon and Visayas.
Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law in May last year after Islamic State-inspired Maute group held Marawi City.
Despite liberation of Marawi five months later, Duterte has extended martial law up to December this year due to threats that uprising could spread in other areas of Mindanao.
Roque assured martial law in Mindanao is not like the military rule used by the Marcos regime.
He said Duterte will continue to respect the democracy that the Filipino nation started to enjoy after the bloodless 1986 People Power Revolution which toppled the Marcos regime.
Roque said Duterte is a product of democracy and has an overwhelming mandate to lead the country.
“Sa atin po, alalahanin natin na kapag ang isang namumuno ay walang mandato at nagpilit na manatili sa puwesto, talagang malalabag po ang demokrasya,” he added. (With PNA/PN)
