MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is ready to pull out troops from Marawi City if ordered by the Supreme Court but warned that if he had to declare martial law again, he would do it his way and it could be a “copycat” of that of former president Ferdinand Marcos.
“If they do not like it, if they (Supreme Court) say there is no factual basis, then I’m ready to order the military to withdraw…Hayaan mo sila diyan kung kaya nila (We will let them be if they can). If the Supreme Court says it’s wrong, I will withdraw,” Duterte told reporters in Butuan City on Saturday.
“If anything goes wrong, and I declare martial law for the second time around, the people suffer, there are bombings, I won’t listen to anyone anymore,” he added.
Duterte declared martial law in the entire island of Mindanao last May 23 after the Maute terrorists raided Marawi city, burned several buildings, including a Catholic cathedral, and held hostage more than a dozen civilians.
Members of the opposition and civil society groups have questioned Duterte’s move and have asked the Supreme Court to compel Congress to convene a joint session to review the president’s basis for his declaration.
Duterte said he has no problem if the judiciary rules against his martial law declaration, saying he can survive without it.
He maintained that terrorists and rebels in Marawi are committing rebellion, one of the conditions that can justify the declaration of martial law.
“If that rebellion burns Mindanao, I’ll be forced to declare martial law again. This time, I will do it on my own to preserve the nation. I’ll not consult anybody. There’s no telling when it will end,” the president said.
“Then it could be a copycat of Marcos. Wala akong magawa e (I was left with no choice),” he added.
Marcos declared martial law in 1972 supposedly to curb the threat posed by communist rebels. Critics said the declaration paved way to human rights abuses, enforced disappearances and persecution of the political opposition.
Duterte also responded to justices who have questions about his administration’s claim that there was a rebellion in Mindanao.
"What do you think? What do you want? That they devour half of Mindanao before we can call if a true blue rebellion?” he said.
He also chided critics of the martial law, calling them “crybabies.”
“They think the government is not doing anything right. Everything that we do is wrong and most of the time, they are the crybabies,” the president said.
Asked when he would lift the martial law, Duterte said: “Hindi matatapos ang martial law hanggang hindi natatapos ang putukan (The martial law won’t be lifted until the fighting is over).”
Officials have said the decision on when to lift martial law would depend on the recommendation of ground commanders.