US intel group sees Duterte pronouncements on RevGov, martial law, drug war as among ‘regional threats’

President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and pronouncements suggesting the declaration of a revolutionary government and a nationwide martial law have been included as among the "regional threats" listed in the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community.

“In the Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime. Duterte has suggested he could suspend the Constitution, declare a ‘revolutionary government,’ and impose nationwide martial law,” the report, dated February 13, said about threats in Southeast Asia.

In a statement included in the report by Daniel Coats, director of national intelligence, the US Intelligence Community said it provides "nuanced, independent, and unvarnished intelligence that policymakers, warfighters, and domestic law enforcement personnel need to protect American lives and America’s interests anywhere in the world."

Duterte's war on drugs and previous pronouncements on martial law and revolutionary government were included in the list of threats to democracy and human rights along with Cambodian leader Hun Sen's supposed repression of democratic institutions and civil society and manipulation of government and judicial institutions and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

Also cited in the list was Thailand’s leaders pledge to hold elections in 2018, which the group feared will result in the crafting of a new Constitution that will "institutionalize the military’s influence."

Palace concerned, views report very seriously

In an interview on ANC, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that the Philippines has "to be friends with the United States," but the declaration of the US Intelligence Community "makes it very difficult to be friendly with the United States."

"It doesn't seem to be too friendly a declaration," he added.

He said Malacañang and President Duterte was taking the report "very seriously" and "with some concern," citing America's supposed role in deposing world leaders.

"At least in one case the International Criminal Court has found the US' interference... they took steps to depose a legitimately elected government," Roque said.

He said Duterte is not a dictator nor had authoritarian tendencies.

“He adheres to the rule of law and remains loyal to the Constitution.  An autocracy is not prevalent, as they would like everyone to believe,” the Palace official said in a separate statement.

“Our media are still able to broadcast and print what they want--‘fake news’ included.  Our judiciary and the courts are functioning as usual.  Our legislature remains independent and basic services are still being delivered.?? There is no revolutionary government or nationwide martial law, which US intelligence officials are saying that the President might declare or impose,” he said.

Duterte had denied the idea of setting up a revolutionary government, after saying he would declare it if the country falls into chaos due to alleged destabilization attempts.

The President also vowed to step down early if the transition to federal government is done by 2020. The martial law declaration, meanwhile, remains confined to Mindanao and is aimed at crushing terrorist and rebel groups.

The US report also mentioned a Freedom House report that identified the Philippines as among the 30 governments that use social media “to spread government views, drive agendas and counter criticism of government online.”

“We have to understand the use of social media has become an important part of the daily lives of Filipinos. It is therefore foolhardy not to tap social media as a tool when the technology exists for free.  I don't know of any government in the free world which does not use the internet and social media to promote its agenda,” Roque said.

“This is very true especially in the case of the US. This latest intelligence assessment is a classic case in point,” he added.

Members of the political opposition and other cause-oriented groups also use social media to advance their agenda, according to Roque.

China's role

For its assessment of Southeast Asia, the US Intelligence Community said democracy and human rights in “many” countries in the region will remain fragile in 2018 as “autocratic tendencies deepen in some regimes and rampant corruption and cronyism undermine democratic values.”

“Countries in the region will struggle to preserve foreign policy autonomy in the face of Chinese economic and diplomatic coercion,” the report said.

China, the world’s second biggest economy, is locked in a dispute with its neighbors including the Philippines over control of vital sea lanes, particularly the South China Sea through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually.

The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration delivered in July 2016 a sweeping victory to the Philippines on the case it filed against China during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III, declaring as illegal China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

Ties with China have warmed under Duterte, who has put aside maritime disputes with Beijing, looking to it to play a key role in building and funding urgently needed infrastructure. —ALG, GMA News