Duterte wants to leave strong military, police as he sees ‘dangerous times ahead’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he wanted to pass on to his successor a country that has stronger defense capability to fight the enemies of the state.

In his speech at the appreciation dinner for former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Manila, Duterte expressed hope that Congress “would tide us over to complete the instruments that we need” in dealing with security problems especially terrorism.

“I hope that by the time I make my exit, nandiyan na lahat ‘yan because I am not belittling the events to come or the person coming in to be the next president. Hindi ko alam kung sino,” he said.

“I see a very dangerous times ahead. And I hope that we will be able to contain whatever there is to really to…Lumalabas nga ‘yung pawis sa kamay ko just thinking about if it would go awry outside of Sulu and Basilan Islands.”

Last week, Duterte said he hoped to complete a certain phase in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program before his term ends in 2022.

The AFP Modernization Program is divided into three horizons. The first was implemented from 2013 to 2017; the second, from 2018 to 2022; and the third, from 2023 to 2028.

Duterte’s pronouncements come after Malacañang said the President very much had the option to impose martial law and set up a revolutionary government to address the country's ills, including corruption, illegal drugs and terrorism.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a news conference earlier in the day that the framers of the 1987 Constitution did not intend to prevent the president from performing his duty, which was "to serve and to protect the people by placing provisions there in derogation of that obligation."

Duterte won the presidency in 2016 on a campaign platform to rid the country of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. —LDF, GMA News