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Martial law on Duterte’s mind as early as November —Lorenzana


President Rodrigo Duterte has thought of declaring martial law as early as November to combat ISIS, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday.

"Actually, matagal na iyan pinag-iisipan ni Presidente iyan. Matagal na naming pinag-uusapan iyan," he told reporters in NAIA after Duterte gave a press briefing.

Lorenzana said they advised the President against it.

"In fact, iyong pumunta kami sa Butig last year, sinabi niya na, 'You prepare for martial law. Pero saan ba ito? Island by island ba or whole Mindanao or Philippines?' Sabi namin hindi pa naman dapat. So the thought process niya nangyari na eh long ago pa," he added.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on Tuesday while he was on an official visit in Russia.

He cut his trip short and arrived in Manila on Wednesday afternoon. —NB, GMA News

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