It is difficult to imagine how anybody could deny a direct quote, but Palace officials did it anyway. It is not the first time they have made fools of themselves and the President they serve.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday scrambled to reverse the effects of President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that no one can stop him from declaring martial law so he could deal with the drug problem and protect the people.
“I will declare martial law to preserve my nation, period,” Mr. Duterte said before a group of Davao businessmen over the weekend. “My country transcends everything else, even the limitations.”
These comments have revived speculation and fear that Mr. Duterte may resort to extreme measures in his zeal to rid the country of the drug menace—as if the killing of at least 5,700 believed involved in the drug trade were not extreme enough. A recent survey said eight in 10 Filipinos feared they or somebody they knew might fall victim to the Duterte administration’s bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, whether or not the accusations have basis.
Talk of martial law unnecessarily alarms Filipinos, who have either direct or vicarious experiences during those dark days. Mr. Duterte is either insensitive or toying with the power he knows he has when he casually claims he would declare it, and then step back, only to say it again.
But Secretary Aguirre says the President’s words were taken out of context because he is actually against martial law. It was just an expression of anger and exasperation at the drug problem. He urged the media not to make any fuss about the issue.
Meanwhile, Andanar scored the media for reporting things that sow panic and confusion among many.
Aguirre added we should, by now, be accustomed to the mindset of the President.
But what mindset, precisely? That he feels he can say anything when he feels passionate about an issue only to let his subordinates clean up, afterward?
A senator described Mr. Duterte’s speech—and since speech is a reflection of the mind, his mind as well—as nothing but theatrical bombast. We applaud the apt description but lament that it appears true of the chief executive, who must, in these extraordinary times, be the most dependable official.
Alas, how can we rely on someone when we do not even know when to take his words for what they are?
Martial law is a grave matter and must not be trifled with, just as we should not trifle with the lives of people and just as we should not underestimate the magnitude of the drug problem. We really cannot afford to waste time and energy figuring out what to make out of Mr. Duterte’s enigmatic words.