MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for his supposed inconsistencies involving martial law and his campaign promise of ending crime and illegal drugs in just 3 to 6 months.

Duterte previously said he would resign if he fails to accomplish his promise within his self-imposed deadline. He later missed his deadline and asked for a 6-month extension. Then on Tuesday, November 15, Duterte said martial law still remains an option if “widespread violence” would not end.

Trillanes, one of the President’s strongest critics since the presidential campaign, taunted Duterte on Wednesday, November 16.

“Akala ko ba 3 to 6 months lang kaya niya nang tapusin ang drug problem or else mag-re-resign siya? Tapos ngayon kailangan na mag-martial law? Anyare? Nag-supermoon?” said the senator, in reference to Monday night’s phenomenon where the Moon appeared larger than usual.

(I thought he could end the drug problem in just 3 to 6 months or else he would resign? But now, he’s saying martial law is needed? What happened? The supermoon?)

Duterte, in a dinner with journalists on Tuesday, said martial law is a “contingency” plan to end violence in the country.

“I am not a fan of martial law,” added the President, who declared a state of lawlessness back in September.

“Abugado ako eh. Natakot ‘yung mga tao sa martial law but if ever, martial law is a contingency [against] widespread violence,” Duterte said.

(I am a lawyer. People are scared of martial law but if ever, martial law is a contingency against widespread violence.)

He also earlier warned of suspending the writ of habeas corpus – a safeguard against warrantless arrests – if he is “forced.”

“Habeas corpus” is a Latin phrase that means “that you have the body.”

Through the writ of habeas corpus, a court can order the state to produce the physical body of a detainee. “In general, the purpose of the writ of habeas corpus is to determine whether or not a particular person is legally held,” the Supreme Court said in a ruling.

The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, then, would allow the state to arrest and jail anyone without trial.

The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, for example, suspended the writ of habeas corpus when he placed the Philippines under martial law, a time of human rights abuses and forced disappearances.

The 1987 Constitution, however, allows the President to suspend the writ of habeas corpus “in case of invasion and rebellion, when the public safety requires it.” – Rappler.com