Tag: martial law

Duterte does not rule out nationwide martial law

Published by Ellen on December 16, 2017

Pres. Duterte peaking during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) – Laban Christmas benefit dinner for Marawi City at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City on December 13, 2017. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal.

Let’s brace ourselves up for martial law, nationwide. President Duterte said it’s a possibility.

Persistent questioning by reporters elicited this admission from the President in a talk with reporters in Fort Bonifacio Wednesday after delivering a speech marking the ceremonial demilitarization of captures, confiscated, surrendered and recovered firearms during the Marawi rebellion.

To avoid misinterpreting the President convoluted justifications for extending martial law in Mindanao including this time the New People’s Army, GMA7’s Joseph Morong asked him, “You are not closing the door to a national martial law?”

Duterte replied, at this time, “All options are on the table. There’s only one rationale there, the existence of the Republic of the Philippines. You threaten the existence of the Republic of the Philippines. I am sure that everybody will react and do what he must do to prevent it.”

Praning ang marami sa ISIS at Martial Law

Published by Ellen on June 3, 2017

Resorts World gunman. Photo from PNP PIO.

(Unang lumabas ang column na ito sa Abante)

Ang pangamba ng karamihan habang pinapanood ang balita sa nangyayari sa Resorts World na malapit sa NAIA 3 noong lampas ng hatinggabi ng Biyernes (Hunyo2) ay baka gamitin itong dahilan ni Pangulong Duterte sa pagdeklara ng Martial Law sa buong bansa.

Ang mga unang balita kasi ay sumigaw daw ng ISIS ang mamang sumugod sa casino na may baril. Hindi naman pala totoo. Ang sumigaw daw ng ISIS ay yung mga taong nagtakbuhan palabas.

Ito namang si U.S. President Donald Trump, na nagsalita sa White House mga tatlong oras ang nakalipas at tinawag na “terror attack” ang nangyari. Sabi niya sa kanyang pagharap sa media sa White House:

Magdalo: No affiliation with Maute

Published by Ellen on May 28, 2017

Update May 31, 2017:

Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV
“During the security briefing, I asked Sec. Lorenzana based on their intel reports, if I or the Magdalo group is linked in any way with the Maute? He answered, ‘No, Mr. Senator. Na receive din namin ang information na galing daw kay Abe Purugganan. Hindi totoo yun. Hindi namin pinansin yun.'”

Rep. Gary C. Alejano when he filed impeachment complaint against President Duterte last March.

Rep. Gary C. Alejano of the Magdalo Party-list denounced as malicious and irresponsible the reports being spread by a former undersecretary in the Arroyo administration linking their organization to the Maute Group whose terrorist campaign in Marawi City President Duterte said compelled him to declare Martial Law in Mindanao on May 23.

“This is the height of irresponsibility of those involved in spreading this fake and malicious information especially in this trying times when our brothers and sisters in Marawi need all the support from the Filipino people. I categorically deny that Magdalo is involved in any terroristic acts or is affiliated with any terrorist groups. The intelligence community could affirm this as we have constant engagements with them,” Alejano, speaking for the group, said in a statement.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the officials of the political organization, said “it is obviously a black propaganda, a very vicious one.” He said he will address the issue after a scheduled briefing by military officials for senators on Monday.

Duterte: Maute Group committed act of rebellion in Marawi City

Published by Ellen on May 27, 2017

This story first came out in VERA Files. Please click here to see complete Martial Law declaration Report.

For more VERA Files report about Martial Law in Mindanao please click to links below:
Martial Law in Mindanao: A timeline

VERA Files Fact Sheet: Explaining Martial Law

Duterte allies in Congress support Martial Law; opposition calls for vigilance

Pres.Rodrigo Roa Duterte signs the report he submitted to Congress for declaring martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao on the sidelines of the special Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on May 25, 2017. Malacañang photo.

President Rodrigo Duterte has called the clashes in Marawi City between the Maute group and government forces an act of rebellion, which is one of the justifications for the imposition of Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus under the Constitution.

The other justification is “invasion.”

In a seven -page report he submitted Thursday to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, following his declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao May 23 while he was on a working visit to Russia , Duterte said, “While the government is presently conducting legitimate operations to address the on-going rebellion, if not the seeds of invasion, public safety necessitates the continued implementation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao until such time that the rebellion is completely quelled.”

“I will be harsh”- Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao

Published by Ellen on May 23, 2017

Click here: Know your rights under Martial Law

What makes me happy.. I’m sad, but what makes me happy that I was able to have a last minute.. Hindi last minute but it was almost an hour, a last minute meeting with President Putin and I was able to communicate all the things that I wanted to tell him. Maganda naman ang ano, positive naman ang…

Mga kababayan natin.. Do not be too scared. I’m going home, I’m cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen and I will deal with the problem once I arrive. But let me just tell everybody that I have declared martial law for Mindanao. How long, well, how.. it would take a year to do, then, we’ll do it. If it’s over within a month, I’d be happy. Pero ang martial law is martial law ah. So kayong mga kababayan ko, you have experienced martial law. It could not be any different from what the President Marcos did. I’d be.. I’d be harsh. I was asked one time during the campaign doon sa La Salle, I was asked how I would deal with terrorism, I said I will be harsh. Sinabi ko nga sa lahat eh, do not force my hand into it. I have to do it to preserve the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

There’s method in Duterte’s martial law ‘madness’

Published by Ellen on January 20, 2017

“I will not declare martial but …”Pres. Duterte talks about martial law in his keynote message during the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Premier Medical Center in Cabanatuan City on January 18, 2017. Malacanang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo.

“Just be quiet all of you.”

Spoken like a despot ordering his minions what to do.

President Duterte barked that order during the 20th founding anniversary of the Premiere Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija Wednesday.

He was reacting to negative reactions to his earlier statement about declaring martial law unilaterally without following the process stated in the Constitution.

Do we take President Duterte seriously?

Published by Ellen on August 11, 2016

Duterte threatens to declare martial law before troops in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro.

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.

Forgotten details from an old story

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2013

By Luz Rimban, VERA Files THE photograph is 30 years old, but it provides startling details to an old, almost forgotten story. Taken by a…

Santiago hits, Locsin defends martial law

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2009

by Carmela Fonbuena,
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

Biazon slams Devanadera for poor defense

An apparent debate between Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin on martial law in Maguindanao stood out in the second day of Congress’ joint session.

Santiago opposed while Locsin defended Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao.

“It is not without irony that I stand here defending martial law. But I do defend it. Nowhere and at no time has martial law been justified nor based more sufficiently or incontrovertible facts…. Look at the bodies. Look at the arms stockpiles,” Locsin told the plenary.

Congress holds joint session on 1959

Published by Ellen on December 10, 2009

by VERA Files

Congress convened Wednesday its historic joint session to discuss the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao following the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead, including 30 journalists, in the country’s worst election-related violence.

Legislators grilled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza on the basis for Proclamation 1959 signed by President Gloria Arroyo last week.

The joint session, which started shortly after 4 p.m., lasted six hours. Outside Congress, opponents of martial law held a rally urging the revocation of Proclamation 1959.

Click here for VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio’s photos.

“Where is the President?”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lawmakers Wednesday cited the glaring absence of the commander in chief, who declared martial law in Maguindanao province, during the first joint session of Congress.