No one can stop me from declaring martial law —Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday evening said that no one can stop him from declaring martial law if that is the only way to preserve the Filipino people and the integrity of the country.

In his speech during the oath-taking rites of the new officers and members of the board of trustees of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce, Duterte said that it doesn't even have to take an external invasion for him to impose an iron rule.

"I have to declare martial law, if have to, to preserve my country ... and the Filipino people.... Walang makapipigil sa akin ... wala nang invasion, invasion."

He was referring to a provision in the Philippine Constitution that an external invasion is one of the conditions for the president to declare martial law.

Also he said that the Supreme Court or Congress can't stop him from declaring martial law if he deems it necessary because of any threat to the "integrity of the country."

"I have to protect the Filipino people. It's my duty. And I tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it. Not about invasion, insurrection, not about danger," the president threatened. "I will declare martial law to preserve my nation, period. Wala akong pakialam diyan sa Supreme Court. Because the right to preserve one's life, and my nation, my country, transcends everything else, even the limitations."

Duterte still considers illegal drugs as one of the biggest threat to Filipinos.

He then showed a thick volume of his narco-list with an inscription on cover-page: "Updated December 28, 2016."

He also dared the military to launch a coup d'etat if they want to.

"Sige, mag-coup kayo. Yung magko-coup, tatawagin ko sila sa Malacañang at sabihin ko sa kanila, 'sige kayo na ang magpatakbo ng bansa.'"

On the issue on graft and corruption, Duterte said that "the people must assert... you should demand the service from government. Magsumbong kayo... I have zero tolerance to corruption."

Not keen on imposing martial law

Just over two weeks ago, last December 29, Duterte said that he was not keen on declaring martial law despite persistent speculations that he might just do so.

He said it was Senator Panfilo Lacson who spoke about the possibility of martial law and triggered "loose talk" on the matter.

"If anything could go wrong, sabi ni Ping (Lacson), in Mindanao, it would go wrong. Murphy's Law. If it gets worse, sabihin mo kay Rody, suggest it to the President, to declare martial law for Mindanao," Duterte told GMA News' Jessica Soho in an interview in Malacañang.

"Sabi ko itong martial law, 'di ba sabi ko ayaw ko?  Hindi ako mag-declare. Hindi ko kailangan iyan. Okay na ako sa lawless violence. Present state of things," he added.

Duterte himself in a speech in Pampanga said that the constitution's provisions on martial law should be changed to remove the required review by Congress and the Supreme Court.

But Vice President Leni Robredo took this statement as "appalling" and "worst Christmas gift" to the Filipino people.

In retort, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that Robredo had made it appear that Duterte wanted to declare martial law. — LBG, GMA News