Martial Law is not an option to eradicate terror groups in the country, as President Rodrigo Duterte dismiss the suggestions that he would impose Martial Law.
The president said thatt Philippines had a 'Martial Law' before but it failed to improve the lives of Filipinos.
Duterte made the statement a day after protesters gathered at the People Power Monument on EDSA to appeal the burial of late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos.
"Pero kung manggaling sa akin, mag-Martial Law, kalokohan 'yan. Nag-Martial Law naman tayo noon. Ano nangyari, gumaling ba ang buhay natin hanggang ngayon? Wala," he said.
"Kaya itong mga taga-Manila, akala nila siguro, hinihintay nila ngayon na magagalit ako. Putang Ina, Martial Law dito, Martial Law doon; barilan dito, barilan doon. Pag-alis ko, dumami ang patay lalo. So you build a nation over the dead bones of the Moro and the Christians, na walang kasalanan," the president added.
But instead of imposing Martial Law, the president would rather give "blanket authority" to local officials wracked by grave peace and order problems, assisted by the military.
"I would rather empower every mayor, Kung sabihin mo sa brigade, tell your story why your community is not safe anymore, then I will give you the blanket authority. Go ahead, what is your order?" he said.
However President Duterte said local officials could not abuse such "authority" and use it to order military to do illegal activities. He said he would give a standing order to soldiers to "shoot officials" who do so.
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