President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Friday night that he may be forced to suspend the writ of habeas corpus if lawlessness in the country escalates, but he quickly added that he would not declare martial law.

Mr. Duterte made the statement in a speech after mentioning the rebellion in Mindanao, the worsening battle with the Maute group, and the alleged widespread illegal drug operations in the country. The Maute gang is a self-styled group of militants based in Lanao del Sur blamed for a September bombing that left 15 dead in Davao city.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If lawlessness becomes widespread, I might be forced to—I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to. It’s just my warning to them. I don’t want it because it’s not good,” Mr. Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English in a speech at an event to honor his mother’s humanitarian efforts.

“But if you force my hand into it, I will declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, not martial law. I have no political plans,” he added.

Warrantless arrests

The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus would essentially allow warrantless arrests. The writ, if granted by the court, requires the state to produce the body of a person in custody.

The Constitution states that the President may suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, for a period not exceeding 60 days.

The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos suspended the writ in 1971 to suppress what he said was violence blamed on communist insurgents. Thousands were arrested or went missing during the two-decade Marcos regime, which was ended by the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

Mr. Duterte said he might be left with no other remedy because he could not just issue an order. He would have to build a case one by one against suspects and once he declares the suspension of the writ, he said he would have them subsequently picked up.

“I will bring them to Samal, and put a hole in the middle so that it would sink and take them with it. They should choose,” he warned.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Mr. Duterte, he would declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus “if you don’t give me a choice and you box me in a corner and I find myself helpless.”

He stressed that the suspension of the writ was in the Constitution to protect the Republic of the Philippines.

“I can be ordered by the Supreme Court to stop it but there are things that they cannot, and maybe, I will not, stop. Whatever, I will tell them I will finish this first, then I can go to jail,” he added.

Prior to his warning, Mr. Duterte spoke extensively about the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, which he justified and which he said would continue throughout his term as long as there were drug lords and drug pushers on the streets.

The bloody campaign has left more than 4,000 suspected drug dealers and addicts dead, either slain in police operations or by unknown vigilante groups.

Perspective

Mr. Duterte noted that there were those who viewed the campaign as terrible, but this depended on one’s perspective.

“Mine is self-defense in defense of the helpless children who are not in a position to really weigh things. It is in defense of a race. It is in defense of my fellowmen,” he said.

Evidence of the social disfunction and the crimes that illegal drug use can cause are widespread, he maintained.

Narcopolitics is now a real problem in the country, indicating that drug lords supposedly wield extensive influence in the government, he said.

He noted that the number of drug users in the country could be about 4 million by the end of the year. He also repeated earlier figures that some 6,000 policemen were involved in the drug trade, as well as some 4,000 local officials, one or two congressmen, and four governors.

He said that even if he wanted to kill all those involved in drugs, he could not do so because he would run out of time.

Mr. Duterte also blamed Sen. Leila de Lima, a former justice secretary who is also one of his most vocal critics, for the expansion of the drug trade in the country.

“And whether she pretends to be what she is not, De Lima opened the portals of narcopolitics that started in the national penitentiary,” he said, referring to the extensive drug trade reportedly controlled by jailed drug operations.

The Philippines is currently under a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao, following the Davao bombing. This meant that troops, along with police forces, can be deployed to public areas and conduct searches. The declaration directs state security forces to suppress lawless violence in Mindanao and prevent this from spreading to the rest of the country.

Read Next

LATEST STORIES

MOST READ </s> LAWMAKERS on Sunday reacted with alarm to the threat of President Rodrigo Duterte that he may suspend the writ of habeas corpus not only to stop rebellion in Mindanao, but also to strengthen the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Senators belonging to the Liberal Party (LP) issued a joint statement maintaining that there is no reason for the President to allow warrantless arrests.

The group, headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, said the illegal drug problem is not a ground to suspend the writ.

As for rebellion, the senators noted that the administration is already talking peace with all armed groups except the Abu Sayyaf.

“We see no basis for the suspension of the Filipinos’ privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and we shall remain committed to upholding the sacred constitutional safeguards to the rights of the Filipino people,” they said.

Section 15 of the Bill of Rights provides: “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.”

Members of the LP in the Senate include Senate president pro-tempore Franklin Drilon and senators Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th and Leila de Lima.

In a separate statement, de Lima called on the President to stop toying with the idea of suspending the writ of habeas corpus in his attempt to supposedly legitimize his administration’s flawed war against illegal drugs.

“The President has spent a lot of time talking about his sheer determination to stop illegal drugs in the country for the rest of his term. However, if he could just spend more time talking with the families of the victims, he’d understand what is fundamentally and dreadfully wrong with his war on drugs and why the planned suspension of the writ of habeas corpus sends dangerous message to the public,” she said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, wanted to know if the declaration of a “State of Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence in Mindanao” in September was a prelude to the President’s plan to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

“Was the state of emergency declared in preparation for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus? Although there is no provision that you need go through first a state of emergency before declaring suspension of the writ or even martial law,” Lacson said in a radio interview.

The senator added that the President’s pronouncement may be part of his “psywar” but the public may see it as “creeping martial law.”

He said suspending the writ of habeas corpus will not speak well of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) anti-illegal drug operations.

“It doesn’t speak well of the efforts of the PNP to curb criminality. They will be contradicting their own statement,” the senator added.

Shades of martial law

 Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay also criticized the President’s pronouncements, saying the threat of suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is reminiscent of martial law.

“There are no legal and factual bases for the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. The deadly campaign against drug traffickers and narcotic abuse is not a ground for suspension. With the growing culture of violence and killings, the suspension of the writ may further embolden the police to summarily execute suspects or cause their involuntary disappearance,” Lagman, a lawyer, said in a statement.

“Besides, the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus will only be a farce because the carcass of victims of extrajudicial killings may not be brought anyway before the courts even without the suspension since the privilege of the writ demands the judicial presentation of the live bodies,” he added.

Clarify it

 A ranking military official also on Sunday urged Malacanang to clarify the President’s statements, saying such pronouncement tends to cause panic.

“That is already a policy statement. The Palace should clarify that because it is a big issue, something that will cause panic. This is because it is already about suspending [the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus],” the military official who requested anonymity said.

While agreeing that empowering state security forces to conduct warrantless arrests may help the government’s campaign against terrorism and illegal drugs, the military official added that it may not help in prosecuting cases against suspects.

“[Suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus] may not outrightly solve the problem because what you can only do is arrest. After arrest is prosecution. So even if the arrest is warranted, if we can’t prosecute, it’s nothing,” the official explained.

He said the basis of the issuance of a warrant of arrest is the existence of probable cause that does not determine the guilt or innocence of a person.

“When you say probable cause, it only means that the person is probably guilty of the offense being charged and he has to be held behind bars to be able or in order to face proceedings when the court needs him. Many were arrested by virtue of warrantless arrests but were later acquitted because the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” the official added.

But Malacanang officials said the enormity of the drug problem would prompt the President to order the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

“If you have 10,000 people involved in the drug menace, you have to file cases against them, secure warrants of arrest and search warrants. You will have a problem with that because that [securing of warrants]will take you eternity. The remedy there is to suspend the writ of habeas corpus so that you will not be restrained or chained by judicial proceedings,” Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a television interview.

“There have been news reports that drug money is being used to finance rebellion in Mindanao, as well as the terrorism by Abu Sayyaf. So in cases of invasion or rebellion, the President, under the Constitution, can seek the suspension of writ of habeas corpus,” Panelo added.

Palace Communications chief Martin Andanar echoed Panelo’s claims, arguing that the President’s warning was prompted by his concern over the unabated drug problem.

Palace officials earlier claimed that the country has won the first phase of the so-called war against drugs with the surrender of around 700,000 drug suspects. The campaign, however, has left around 4,000 drug suspects killed in its wake, according to watchdogs.

“Our drug problem is widespread. The President has shown a list of persons of interest in connection with this. This is really unresolved at this point. It is not an overnight campaign. It is not a campaign that can be done in just six months and the President has already mentioned that,” Andanar said in a radio interview.

“The President asked for an extension for the anti-drug war because this is not easy. This does not mean a failure. It means discovering how worse the problem is. A lot of people are into it, there are people from government who are involved in it beyond our expectations. It’s that simple,” he added.

Panelo, however, insisted that the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus will not be a prelude to martial law.

“The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus [will be sought]if the remedies on the drug menace and criminality won’t suffice. There is no need to declare martial law,” he said. </s> PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, a move that would allow warrantless arrests, if illegal drugs and terrorism spread across the country.

In a speech in Davao City on Friday night, Duterte said he was considering suspending the writ as it is among the constitutional provisions “intended to protect the Republic of the Philippines.”

“If lawlessness spreads, I might be forced to — I don’t want, it’s a warning but I don’t want to do it because it doesn’t look good – but if you force my hand into it, I will declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” he said at the launching of Pilipinong May Puso Foundation Inc.

In September, Duterte placed the country in a “State of Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence in Mindanao” following the blast in a night market in his home city of Davao that killed 15 people.

‘No martial law’

 But the President quickly made it clear he would not place the country under martial rule.

“I will declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, not martial law. I have no intention to play politics,” Duterte said.

The President said he had “no remedy” to the drug and terrorism problems, citing the attacks waged in Mindanao by the Maute terror group, which was tagged in the September 2 Davao City blast.

“I will declare a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, I will pick them all up. I will bring them to Samal Island. I will open up Samal Island in the middle so they sink with it,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino. “They choose. It’s true. If you don’t give me a choice then you box me in a corner and I find myself helpless.”

If the Supreme Court blocks the suspension of the writ, the President said he would remain undeterred.

“Those are really provisions intended to protect the Republic of the Philippines. I can be ordered by the Supreme Court to stop it but there are things that they cannot, and maybe, I will not, stop,” Duterte said.

“I’ll tell them I will finish this first then I can go to jail. File all the charges that you can think of. But this country, in my time, will not deteriorate any further,” he added.

The writ of habeas corpus refers to the power of the courts to require the state to produce a person in custody.

Under the Constitution, the suspension of the privilege of the writ is only allowed with respect to “persons judicially charged for rebellion or offenses inherent in or directly connected with invasion.”

Once suspended, authorities will have the power to arrest anyone without a warrant. It also allows prolonged periods of detention without charges. </s> President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said “war” and “street fighting” have forced him to declare martial law in Mindanao.

“There is a war going on and street fighting in Marawi itself,” he said during his arrival speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Duterte arrived in Manila after cutting short his official visit to Russia where he met President Vladimir Putin.

He said he does not know how many buildings were burned down and that there are reports that some people have already been decapitated.

“Government must put an end to this. I cannot gamble with ISIS because they are everywhere,” he said.

“By virtue of the powers vested in me and the constitution and the law, I had to declare martial law in the Mindanao group of island for a period of not more than 60 days, effective May 23, 2017,” Duterte said. “The privilege of the write of habeas corpus is also suspended.”

On Tuesday evening, the President announced that he has declared martial law in Mindanao. In the past, Duterte has said he was willing to declare martial law if it meant “preserving” the Republic of the Philippines.

Clashes between government security forces and the armed men, led by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, started on Tuesday afternoon. There were also reports of explosions and fires. Some individuals have claimed that civilians were taken hostage although government officials have yet to confirm such reports.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Maute group, which had pledged allegiance to the international terror group ISIS, has occupied several facilities in the city, including a hospital.

In his speech, Duterte confirmed that the Maute group has taken over a hospital and burned down government facilities.

He said the flying of the flag of the Islamic State and taking over of the other actions of the armed groups has “deprive(d)” the local chief executive of his powers to maintain public order and safety in Mindanao.

Duterte said what the Maute group did constituted the crime of rebellion.

The Maute group was previously tagged in the bombing of a Davao City night market in September last year that killed 15 people.

Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution states that, “In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.”

On Wednesday morning, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the tension has died down and that the city hall has been secured. </s> The Philippines has suspended the deployment of workers to Qatar after several Gulf states severed ties with Doha.

The administration in Manila is concerned that if there are food shortages in Qatar due to the political “siege”, Filipino workers could be the first to suffer.

Government forces have arrested the father of the Maute brothers — leaders of the urban warfare against the military in Marawi City in Mindanao — and four other individuals in Davao City.

The Supreme Court has set the dates for oral arguments on the petition against martial law in Mindanao on June 13-15.

Malacañang Palace officials insist that President Rodrigo Duterte respects Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and his views on the administration’s foreign policy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken to Qatar and neighbouring Arab states in efforts to find a solution to the Gulf crisis. </s> Proclamation No. 216 also suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – A copy of President Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation No. 216 declaring martial law in Mindanao was released on Wednesday evening, May 24.

The proclamation, signed on Tuesday, May 23, while Duterte was in Russia for an official visit, also suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

"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 person detained. "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 (SC) said in a previous ruling.

"The suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall apply only to persons judicially charged for rebellion or offenses inherent in, or directly connected with, invasion," according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

"During the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, any person thus arrested or detained shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he shall be released."

Proclamation No. 216 cited as justification "the series of violent acts committed by the Maute terrorist group" last year as well as their attack on Marawi City on Tuesday. The clashes in the city have left at least 5 soldiers dead and forced thousands to flee.

"This recent attack [on Tuesday] shows the capability of the Maute group and other rebel groups to sow terror, and cause death and damage to property not only in Lanao del Sur but also in other parts of Mindanao," states the proclamation. (READ: FAST FACTS: What you should know about the Maute Group)

Below is a copy of the two-page Proclamation No. 216.

Duterte warned on Wednesday that he will be "harsh" in implementing martial law, which he said "will not be any different" from the military rule under dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Duterte also said he might expand martial law to include Luzon and the Visayas if the threat of the Islamic State (ISIS) persists. (READ: Maute Group waves ISIS black flag on Marawi streets)

If the President wants to extend martial law beyond the 60 days specified in the 1987 Constitution, he must get the approval of Congress.

Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution says that the President, as commander-in-chief, may "in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it" suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the country under martial law.

Crafted after the EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos in 1986, the 1987 Constitution highlights the role of other branches of government in the martial law declaration. The provisions are meant precisely to prevent grave abuse and stop another Marcos from tinkering with civil rights.

Congress may revoke the declaration of martial law, while the SC may review it following an "appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen." (READ: Martial Law 101: Things you should know) – Rappler.com </s> MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he will deal harshly with terrorism and that martial law on the island of Mindanao would remain in place for a year if necessary.

Duterte cut short a visit to Russia and placed the southern island of Mindanao under martial rule on Tuesday after a fierce bout of fighting erupted during a raid by security forces at a hideout of Islamic State-linked militants.

"To my countrymen who have experienced martial law. It would not be any different from what President Marcos did. I’d be harsh,” Duterte said in an interview with his assistant communications secretary while onboard a flight back to Manila.

"If it would take a year to do it then we'll do it. If it's over with a month, then I'd be happy. To my countrymen, do not be too scared. I'm going home. I will deal with the problem once I arrive," said Duterte, a native of Mindano.

Two soldiers and a policeman were killed and 12 people wounded amid chaos in Marawi, a predominantly Muslim city of about 200,000 people, where members of the Maute militant group took control of buildings and set fire to a school, a church and a detention facility.

The Philippines endured a decade of martial law under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos from the early 1970s and memories of campaigns to restore democracy and protect human rights are fresh in the minds of many people.

The military said it was optimistic they could end the conflict sooner rather than later.

"The intent of these security forces, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is to conclude this rapidly so that we can restore normalcy in that area," military spokesperson Edgar Arevalo said in an interview with news channel ANC.

The purpose of Tuesday's raid was to capture Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf group which is notorious for piracy and for kidnapping and beheading Westerners. The U.S. State Department has offered a bounty of up to US$5 million for Hapilon's arrest.

The Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and have proved fierce opponents for the military as Duterte seeks to crush extremists and prevent radical Islamist ideology from spreading in the Philippines.

Duterte has warned repeatedly that Mindanao, an impoverished, restive region the size of South Korea, was at risk of "contamination" by Islamic State fighters driven out of Iraq and Syria.

Arevalo insisted there is no ISIS in the Philippines.

"This so-called group who are posing to be ISIS, they are merely courting the acclamation of ISIS which until now they haven’t received, that’s why they continue with their atrocities," Arevalo said. </s> Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that the martial law imposed in the southern island of Mindanao, might also be extended to the rest of the country if the terror threat escalates

Duterte announced the measure on Tuesday night after militants attacked the city of Marawi in Mindanao, killing three and wounding over 10.

He said the martial law will be withdrawn only after the police and the army have confirmed that the situation in Mindanao is stable, Efe news reported.

“We must move fast to restore normalcy. If it takes one week, I will be happy, but if it takes five years of my term, I will not withdraw it,” the President said, referring to the martial law.

According to the country’s current constitution, the martial law can be applied for a maximum period of 60 days, after which the Congress decides if an extension is required.

“If I think the ISIS has got a foothold in Luzon, I might declare martial law throughout the country to protect the people,” Duterte asserted.

On Tuesday, militants from the Maute group — an organization linked to the Islamic State — had captured Marawi, a city with a population of 200,000 people, and laid siege on a hospital for hours, and set a church, a college and the city’s prison to fire, while holding over 10 people hostage.

The Maute group is an Islamic armed organization based in Lanao del Sur that first emerged in 2012 under the name of Khilafah Islamiyah Movement (KIM), but adopted the name EI-Ranao two years later to indicate its affiliation with the IS. </s> MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Monday to continue his bloody war on illegal drugs despite international and domestic criticism and warned that offenders will end up in "jail or hell." In his second state of the nation speech, Duterte also insisted he would not hold peace talks with communist rebels because of continuing attacks.

Security issues dominated his most important annual speech, including a disastrous two-month uprising by pro-Islamic State group militants in a southern city, the worst crisis he has faced.

Thousands of protesters marched outside Congress demanding he deliver on a range of promises which mirror the diverse burdens of his presidency, from protecting human rights to improving internet speed.

A look at the most serious issues confronting Duterte as he enters his second year in power.

Two months after more than 600 pro-Islamic State group militants blasted their way into the southern city of Marawi, the military is still fighting the last gunmen — fewer than 100, about 10 of them foreign. Duterte told reporters after his speech Monday that the government counteroffensive will not stop "until the last terrorist is taken out."

The crisis, however, may not end soon, according to Duterte, because troops have to move carefully to ensure the safety of about 300 hostages he said are being held by the gunmen. "I don't want these innocent people to be slaughtered," he said.

Congress overwhelmingly voted on Saturday to grant Duterte's request to extend martial law in the south to the end of the year to allow Duterte to deal with the Marawi crisis and stamp out other extremist groups across the south, something five presidents before him have failed to do.

About half a million people have been displaced by the Marawi fighting. Some have threatened to march back to the still-besieged city to escape the squalor in overcrowded evacuation camps in nearby towns. Rebuilding Marawi will require massive funds and national focus and will be fraught with pitfalls. Amid the despair and gargantuan rebuilding, it's important "to ensure that extremist teachings do not find fertile ground," said Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict.

Despite criticism and threats of criminal prosecution, Duterte said his drug crackdown, which has left thousands of suspects dead, will go on. "Do not try to scare me with prison or the International Court of Justice," he said Monday. "I'm willing to go to prison for the rest of my life." He reiterated his plea that Congress reimpose the death penalty for drug offenders and others.

"The fight will not stop until those who deal in (drugs) understand that they have to stop because the alternatives are either jail or hell," Duterte said, to applause from his national police chief, Ronald del Rosa, and other supporters in the audience.

Related: Duterte Calls U.S. 'Lousy' and Vows Never to Visit

During the campaign, he promised to rid the country of illegal drugs in three to six months and repeatedly threatened traffickers with death. But he missed his deadline and later declared he would fight the menace until his last day in office. When then-U.S. President Barack Obama, along with European Union and U.N. rights officials, raised alarm over the mounting death toll from the crackdown, Duterte lashed out at them, telling Obama to "go to hell." Duterte's fiercest critic at home, Sen. Leila del Lima, was detained in February on drug charges she said were baseless.

More than 5,200 suspects have died so far, including more than 3,000 in reported gunbattles with police and more than 2,000 others in drug-related attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen and other assaults, police said. Human rights groups have reported a higher toll and called for an independent investigation into Duterte's possible role in the violence.

Duterte "has unleashed a human rights calamity on the Philippines in his first year in office," U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said. In April, a lawyer filed a complaint of crimes against humanity against Duterte and other officials in connection with the drug killings before the International Criminal Court. An impeachment complaint against the president was dismissed in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by Duterte's allies.

More than a month into Duterte's presidency, the Philippines won a landmark arbitration case before a tribunal in The Hague that invalidated China's massive territorial claims in the South China Sea under a 1982 U.N. maritime treaty.

Aiming to turn around his country's frosty relations with China, Duterte refused to demand immediate Chinese compliance with the ruling. He promised he would take it up with Beijing at some point. Confronting China, which has dismissed the ruling as a sham, risks sparking an armed conflict that the Philippines would surely lose, Duterte contended.

In a news conference Monday, Duterte said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping during a Beijing visit last year that the Philippines would drill for oil in disputed areas it asserts as its own, and that Xi responded that such an action would spark an armed confrontation.

Nationalists and critics blasted Duterte for what they see as a sellout to China. After the Xi meeting, China allowed Filipino fishermen to return to Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese coast guard ships drove Filipinos away in 2012.

The Philippines had been the most vocal critic of China's assertive behavior in the disputed waters until Duterte took power and reached out to Beijing, partly to secure funding for infrastructure projects.

His move has de-escalated tensions in the busy sea, but critics have warned that Duterte's friendly overtures to China may erode the country's chances of demanding that China comply with the ruling and relinquish its claims to waters regarded as the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte threatens to suspend the country's habeas corpus "if forced to" by what he says the worsening lawlessness in the country. He mentioned in the same speech, the alleged widespread illegal drug trade in the country, the rebellion in Mindanao, and the worsening campaign against the militant Maute group.