If the nation begins to capsize, Pesident Duterte is prepared to do “what is necessary” to prevent the “disintegration” of the country.
The President, in a recent assembly of local government officials in Malacañang, vowed to take a drastic measure to protect the nation and keep peace and order, although he has ruled out expanding martial law beyond Mindanao.
“If things would capsize or begin to capsize, then I would know what to do,” Duterte said during the oath-taking of new officials of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
“If you think that I am here to just protect the Filipinos who are alive, I said ours is prevent the disintegration of the country. For then there would be no Republic of the Philippines to talk about…I will do what is necessary to protect my country,” he said.
Duterte, who earlier declared he was confronting problems such as the illegal drugs trade, communist insurgency, and terrorism, however, remained confident that the country was far from facing extinction.
“Every lawyer in town and every Filipino would really say that they would understand me of what I will do. But that is when we are towards extinction. And that is very far away. You have so many Filipinos to kill to do that,” he said.
“But if the Republic begins to disintegrate and a lot of things and it changes the whole concept of democracy, ibang istorya na ‘yan,” he added.
The President had earlier ruled out placing Negros Island under martial law, saying he would rather deploy more government troops to the area to quell lawless elements. (Genalyn Kabiling)
