Martial law is not a requisite in carrying out presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s pledge to wipe out criminality, corruption in government, and drugs in just three to six months under his presidency. Peter Lavina, Duterte’s spokesman, assured this after Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile expressed doubts Duterte’s promise will be realized unless the president places the whole country under martial law. Enrile was apparently recalling how the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos was able to instill discipline in the country when he placed the Philippines under military rule starting in 1972. He was then the secretary of the Department of National Defense. Duterte, who has admitted having killed suspected criminals as mayor of Davao City, had insisted he can deliver on his promise to end criminality, drugs, and corruption in government in six months or less. He usually reiterates on this pledge in public gathering, even [...]
