(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, June 7, denied he had plans of imposing martial law in the country.
Duterte made the remark amid speculations over his comment he would resort to “radical” measures to arrest rising criminality.
“Martial law is not feasible. It won’t work. It’s going to divide the nation. [I] might think of something else,” he said.
He noted that when martial law was imposed by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, “what really made it so unpopular was the abuses committed, unbridled, unfettered.”
“I will not allow suppression but I will allow free speech to the fullest,” he added.
According to Duterte, he may instead use his emergency powers.
The country is under a state of national emergency following the bombing of a market in Davao in 2016.
Mindanao was also placed under martial law last year, after the attack of Islamic State-inspired local terrorists in Marawi.
