Duterte: Don’t compare me to Marcos

President Rodrigo Duterte on the eve of the Congress' special session on the extension of martial law said he should not be judged based on the actions of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

In a speech before businessmen in Davao City on Friday, Duterte shunned the idea of perpetuating himself through martial law.

"I am not enamored with that martial law powers. Hindi ako ‘yung naaatat-atat diyan na... you suspect me just like Marcos beginning to–why do you have to refer me Marcos?" he said.

"I don’t know. History has judged him little by little throughout the years. You judge me on my own," he added.

Duterte reiterated that he would not steal the money of the people.

"I’ve been mayor here for 23 years. I never stole one peso here. I have won all my elections here with a whopping majority until the presidency. Wala akong ninakaw dito," he said.

"I am 72 years old, what would I do with the money that I would steal? For example, the equal amount that was lost was 37 billion. What would I do with it? Wipe it on my a–? How many years do you think I can enjoy life?"

It was Duterte himself who said that the next time he would have to declare martial law, it would be a copycat of Marcos' Proclamation No. 1081.

Duterte signed Proclamation No. 216, declaring martial law and suspending the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao on May 23 just hours after pro-ISIS Maute group attacked Marawi City.

The 60-day martial law period will end on July 22. So, he asked Congress to extend this proclamation until December 31, five more months.

Extension

Duterte in a media interview with reporters after the event justified his request for five-month martial law extension, which he said was the recommendation of the security officials, because of the rehabilitation and the possible retaliation and spillover.

"Because I have to rehabilitate. Then again, the retaliation. You know, every space in Mindanao, there are always Moro and a Christian. The contamination of the ideology, ta nakita nilang patay, might spur others just to do the same," he said.

"Mindanao specifically is a land of the mixed. Kaya ako hindi masyado kampante because there will be mopping up operations. This is not a ... boundary is a land boundary. It’s very porous. Either you can go to Zamboanga and to Jolo and Basilan, and in the rest, even in Davao. There are so many, here, dito sa atin," he added.

But Duterte also said he would be ready to lift martial law when the security issues have been addressed.

"Well, if there is no more ISIS doing its thing, there is no more rebellion. What am I supposed to do with martial law? I get my salary with or without a martial law. It doesn’t really bother me anymore. Ano ba ‘yung martial law?" he said. —LBG, GMA News