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Friday, March 29, 2024

No getting used to this

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WE don’t know which is worse: That the President utters incendiary things during these precarious times, or that we cannot tell whether he means what he says.

On Saturday, the President said he would ignore the Supreme Court and Congress if they meddled with his decision to impose martial law in Mindanao.

On May 23, Mr. Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law in reaction to the Maute group’s attack on Marawi City. Inspired by the Islamic State, the Maute Group has been displaying the global terror group’s black flag all over the city. More than a hundred people have been killed and most of the residents have fled to safer ground.

The 1987 Constitution gives oversight functions to the judiciary and legislative branches of government in the event martial law is declared by the chief executive. The Supreme Court can rule on the declaration’s legality. Congress needs to endorse any extension of the 60-day period allowed for martial law.

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It’s plain check and balance, to ensure that no excesses are committed even under the best of intentions.

But Mr. Duterte said only the police and military can say when martial law should be lifted and that he would not listen to others. “The Supreme Court, Congress, they are not here.” They are not the ones dying and losing blood because of absence of help, said the President.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made things worse when he said the Supreme Court will be rendered powerless once Congress affirms the validity of the martial law proclamation. Aguirre cited the detailed report of the President justifying the declaration.

On Monday, however, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Mr. Duterte had no intentions to ignore the oversight functions of the Supreme Court and Congress. “The President will listen, actually,” he said. “The President meant that those who are truly aware of the situation are the military and the police. This is not meant to bypass the Supreme Court or the legislature.”

We are then left to trust our creative imagination as we had been advised by Palace spokesmen many times before, as we decipher the words and intent of the man we are supposed to be looking to for guidance and direction.

Even Senator Panfilo Lacson’s advice to get used to the President’s rhetoric, and ask ourselves whether he means, half means, or does not mean what he says, is hardly inspiring. Lacson was referring to Mr. Duterte’s latest rape joke, which he cracked before soldiers in Iligan City.

In regular times and especially in times of crisis, people look to their leader as an example of stability, rationality and level-headedness. We don’t need to waste precious energy figuring out whether he is providing comic relief, displaying bravado, or owning up to the fact that he is unhinged.

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