Do we take President Duterte seriously?

I take him seriously because the president of the Republic of the Philippines is so powerful that with a stroke of a pen, he can save a life or send the nation to war.

Last Tuesday, President Duterte threatened to declare martial law.

“ Please, ‘wag mo akong… hindi ako gago. If this continues, pigilan mo ako eh ‘di sige. ‘Pag nagwala na...or would you rather that I will declare martial law?, he said before the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro.

Duterte was lashing out on Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno who stood up to him by reminding him of the separation of powers and other provisions in the Constitution which he could have violated when he read a list of alleged illegal drugs protector including seven judges. Others in more than 150 names in the list were congressmen, military officials, police officers, mayors, and vice mayors.

He said the list ““has undergone a process” which many thought meant the involvement of those named had been validated.
Within 24 hours, errors in the list were pointed out.

Sereno said one of the judges named had long been dead and the other was dismissed from the judiciary nine years ago. Three others are presiding in courts not handling drug cases.

This was the statement of Sereno that made Duterte ballistic: “To safeguard the role of the judges as the protector of constitutional rights, I would caution them very strongly against ‘surrendering’ or making themselves physically accountable to any police officer in the absence of any duly-issued warrant of arrest that is pending.”

Duterte, a former prosecutor bristled at Sereno’s advice to observe due process: “Manghingi ka ng warrant? Madam Chief Justice, you must be joking. You must be joking. Dalawa tayo abogado. Kayong lahat sa Supreme Court…do you know how long it would take to secure a warrant of arrest?

“One single case in the Republic of the Philippines, the warrant to issue is a minimum of two months, three months. Pagdating sa Korte, Madam Justice, it will take forever. ‘Pag natalo, aakayat yan sa Court of Appeals. It would sit there for about two years.”
The President issued a counter warning to the Chief Justice:

“So, ikaw ang winarningan ko, hindi ako.”Do not create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you.”

The threat of declaring martial law sent alarm bells ringing especially to human rights advocates and those who had experienced martial law under the late Ferdinand Marcos.

Immediately, Malacanang went into damage control. Press Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement said, “The President merely asked a rhetorical question and said it under the context that his anti-drug campaign cannot wait for the slow wheels of justice – [Philippines] style. We have an Action Man for a President who believes justice delayed is justice denied. He is the type, who at the onset of his presidency, simply wants to hit the ground running and rid society of drugs, crime, and corruption with urgency.”

It did not help, however, that Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo underscored that “The Constitution says the President can declare martial law not only in cases of invasion or rebellion, but when public safety requires it. Right now, the safety of the public is in imminent danger.”

He then backtracked with,“I don’t think the President will do that.”

Senate Minority Leader Ralph G. Recto advised the public to “learn to auto-delete the colorful parts of Digong’s statements.
For those who are outraged, Recto said, “the best coping mechanism is not to let his curses get in the way of studying the causes he is fighting for.”

Recto is being kind. Many can only turn to prayers like artist-activist Mae Paner who articulated the distress of many in her Facebook post:

“Napapa-isip Ako

“Lord, anong klaseng anghel ang ibinigay mo sa amin? Parang halimaw ang iniregalomo sa amin. Mali ba ako?

“Yung pagmumura kayang sikmurain. Pero yung pumapatay para sa katahimikan namin? Thank you? Yung maglilibing kay Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani? Whew! Yung magde-declare ng unilateral ceasefire tapos babawiin? Game show? Yung sasabihing baliw ang sarili niyang anak on national tv? Wow! Yung bumabastos sa bangkay at kababaihan? Arayko! Yung nagbabanta sa Supreme Court justice? Pak! Yung nagbabanta ulit ng martial law? Wagas! Yung ang extra judicial killings ginawang bisyo? Nakakaloka!

“Bangungot ba ito? Pagsubok? O nang-iinis ka Lord? Pikon talo?

“Actually…

“Gusto kong manahimik dahil may takot pa din ako. Gusto kong umayon dahil baka ma-bully ako ng mga bilib sa kanya. Gusto ko siyang bigyan ng pagkakataon dahil bagong upo lang siya. Gusto kong pumalakpak dahil itataas daw niya sahod ng kapatid kong sundalo. Gusto kong magduda pero binigyan niya ng puwesto ang ilang progresibo. Gusto kong isiping di hamak naman siyang mas magaling kesa kay Aquino.

“Sa wakas may FOI at tuloy na ang RH. May pag-asa ang divorce.

“Gusto ko pang ngumiti pero bakit ang sakit ng panga ko? Gusto ko pang umasa na tunay ang ginagawa niyang pagbabago. O sadyang tanga lang ba ako?

“Masasanay rin ako sa style niya? Hanggang mamanhid?

“Sino ba ang nilalaro nino Lord? Sirit na.

“Isa’t kalahating buwan pa lang ang nabawas sa anim na taon. Lamang kalsada pa rin ba ako hanggang mag edad 59?

“Lord, bakit ang sakit mong magmahal!?!