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Pacquiao: If Duterte declares martial law, it will be for the people


Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remarks on martial law, saying the chief executive will not decide on anything that will harm the Filipino people he vowed to serve.

“Hindi naman basta-basta magde-desisyon ang Pangulo. Wala naman hangad yan kung hindi para sa bayan,” Pacquiao said in an interview.

The neophyte senator said he will support Duterte’s decision to impose martial rule, if and when he does, citing the problem of illegal drugs in the country.

“Para sa’kin, irerespeto ko kung ano yung desisyon niya…Kasi kahit ako nakikita ko, nanonood ako palagi ng news, yung mga tao — can you imagine massive na yung campaign against illegal drugs tapos ang tigas ng ulo ng mga tao, ayaw huminto,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao is a close ally of President Duterte. He said he himself can assure that President Duterte will not do anything self-serving.

“Kilala ko si Presidente. In-a-assure ko sa kanila na lahat ng ginagawa ng pangulo para sa taongbayan. Wala siyang gagawin para sa kanyang sarili. Believe me, believe me,” he said.

Over the weekend, Duterte said 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.

“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.”

Duterte also 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.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III also defended Duterte from critics, saying he was simply staying a fact.

“He’s just stating a fact but he’s not saying that he’s going to declare martial law,” Sotto said in an interview with reporters.

“The issue is, will it be supported by the people? Is it necessary? Will the Congress or the Supreme Court conform?” he added.

Senator Leila de Lima, a vocal critic of President Duterte, said the administration was “engaging in self-contradiction” for floating the idea of martial law, yet proclaiming that they are winning the war on drugs.

“Alin po ba ang totoo? Nag-i-improve ho ba ang sitwasyon natin sa larangan ng pagsusugpo ng problema sa droga o lumalala? Kasi kung hindi naman lumalala at nag-i-improve, what is the necessity for martial law?” De Lima said.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar had blamed the media for supposedly “misreporting” Duterte’s martial law remarks.

“Such headlines sow panic and confusion to many. We consider this kind of reportage as the height of journalistic irresponsibility,” Andanar said. — RSJ, GMA News

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