Joma says Duterte ‘hell-bent’ on declaring martial law; Palace hits ‘ludicrous’ remark

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Joma Sison on Sunday accused President Rodrigo Duterte of planning to proclaim martial law nationwide to make sure that the outcome of the May 2019 elections will be in his favor.

"From inside the Mafia-like Duterte ruling clique, the latest report is that Duterte himself and his innermost cabal are hell-bent on ensuring their stay in power through a presidential proclamation of martial law nationwide before the May, 2019 mid-term elections," Sison said in a statement.

Sison alleged that nationwide martial law could be declared as early as January 2019.

"In accordance with their decision, they are mobilizing government agencies to hype the threat of a supposed rolling ouster plot by Reds, yellows and unreliables within the AFP and PNP and to step up the vilification campaigns, intrigues and repressive actions," he added.

Sison, on self-exile in the Netherlands, described the Duterte regime as "power-crazed" and "hated by the people," citing supposedly deteriorating economic and social conditions, Duterte's "fake" war on drugs, the destruction of Marawi City, and the termination of peace talks as among the reasons.

He also alleged that opinion polls are paid to give Duterte "unbelievably high popularity ratings."

The Palace recently welcomed an improved net trust rating for Duterte in the third quarter of 2018.

'Ludicrous'

Malacañang denied Sison's allegation and lambasted his remarks.

"The remarks, therefore, of Mr. Jose Ma. Sison that PRRD would declare a nationwide martial law to ensure his stay in power is downright ludicrous. Mr. Sison has been foisting that martial law bogey for more than a year now as part of his psywar campaign against the Administration. All his forecasts have fallen flat on the ground," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo reiterated Duterte's "repeated" and "consistent" pronouncement that he will step down when his term expires on June 30, 2022.

He added that the president is even willing to cut short his tenure in the event that a new Constitution is ratified that would usher in a new and better system of government.

"It is only when the conditions outlined by the Constitution can martial law be proclaimed. President Duterte has articulated in numerous occasions that he would not impose martial rule unless so required by the command of the Constitution," Panelo said.

Panelo added that Sison was "already out-of-touch of the political realities in the Philippines" and has resorted to making such statements after he allegedly lost leadership of the communist group.

"With the lack of support from these leaders who are now woke of their unfair relationship with him, he is now left with just issuing rehash statements from the safe and comfortable environment of his exile," he said. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News