A nationwide martial law declaration remains an option for President Duterte if the communist rebels launch a violent rebellion against the government.

The President said he would not hesitate to place the country under martial law and deploy the police and the military to arrest the communist rebels causing trouble and destruction in the streets.

“Do not commit the mistake of staging a rebellion ‘yung sabihin mo na [where] there’s fighting on the streets. I will not hesitate to impose martial law all throughout the country and order the arrest of everybody,” the President said during a military camp visit in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday.

“Hindi ako nananakot pero gagamitin ko talaga ang Armed Forces pati pulis. Ayaw ko makipagpatayan (I am not trying to scare you but I will really use the Armed Forces and the police). I don’t want bloodshed] but if you do that, I will arrest all of you,” he said.

The President issued the warning after noticing the communist rebels and their front groups were no longer hiding their meetings. “Their meetings are in public,” he said.

Duterte said he has allowed these groups to go on with their activities as long as they don’t cause any trouble.

He said he would even declare the protest day a holiday and order the troops to stay in their barracks.

“I will declare that day a holiday. No government time. Stay at home. Mga estudyante, kung gusto ninyong sumali sa ano [If the students want to join], you are free,” he said.

But if the rebels resort to commit arson, vandalism and other violence, Duterte warned that they would face the full force of the law.

“You can have the city but do not create trouble. ‘Yan lang talaga ang warning ko. Do not resort to destruction and trouble because I will order the military and the police to go against you,” he added.

“You want to destroy it? Fine. So we can start anew. Let us go into spasm. Wala akong problema diyan [I have no problem with that],” he said.

The President, in his remarks in Digos City last Friday, said the communist rebels should declare a ceasefire if they want to resume peace talks with the government.

“Kung gusto ninyo balikan ang (If you want to continue the) peace talks, you declare a ceasefire oath. And if you say you want another war, be my guest,” he said.

Malacañang earlier said the administration has a “complicated” relationship with the local communist group.

Peace talks between the government and the communist insurgents have bogged down over recent rebel attacks on state forces. The President has been furious at the rebels for killing soldiers and policemen including those on off duty.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn Kabiling

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