Philippines' Duterte threatens to declare martial law across the WHOLE country next week in response to protests against him
- Official said Duterte made the threat in conversation with him last week
- It comes as opposition groups announced a demonstration in Manila next week
- Protesters are hitting out at Duterte's rule and his violent War on Drugs
- The southern third of the country is already under martial law amid conflict
- Government forces have been battling Islamic militants in Marawi since May
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte may declare nationwide martial law if protests against his rule turn violent or disrupt the country, his defence chief said today.
The threat comes after the leader imposed martial law in the south of the country in May as the country battles ISIS-backed militants in the region.
He has repeatedly threatened to impose the policy nationwide, but neither he nor his aides have previously given a specific time frame or event that would trigger it.
Protesters raise clenched fists next to an anti-martial law placard during a rally near the US embassy in Manila today
Demonstrators burn an effigy of President Duterte in the street in protests concerning the Marawi conflict
The Philippines's defence secretary has said that President Duterte has threatened to impose martial law if planned protests turn violent
President Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order platform
A coalition of opposition groups calling themselves 'Movement Against Tyranny' have announced a planned demonstration in the capital Manila next week.
The group will be protesting against Duterte's violent war on drugs, which has so far claimed thousands of lives, as well as his attacks on the country's democratic institutions.
But Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said any disruption caused by demonstrators could be met with military force.
Recounting a conversation he had with Duterte earlier this week, Mr Lorenzana said: 'He said, "if the left will try to have a massive protest, start fires on the streets, they will disrupt the country, then I might declare martial law".'
The president has already imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines after ISIS-backed militants occupied Marawi, a major Islamic city there in May.
The ensuing conflict has since claimed more than 800 lives.
Mr Lorenzana's revelation comes as protesters took to the streets of Manila today to demonstrate against US intervention in Marawi.
The group planned to march to the US Embassy and some were seen burning effigies of Duterte and American president Donald Trump.
Duterte has already imposed martial law in the southern third of the country as government forces battle Islamic militants in Marawi. The conflict has left the area devastated
Members of the Philippine Marines conduct a clearing operation at the main battle zone to liberate Marawi
The Marawi Conflict has killed more than 800 people dead since ISIS-backed militants occupied the city
Graphic on killings in drug enforcement operations in the Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016
Mr Lorenzana said that he doubted that the planned protests would be big enough to constitute the imposition of martial law
Mr Lorenzana emphasised he thought the chances of Duterte declaring nationwide martial law were remote because he doubted protests would be big.
But he added: 'The president is indeed very concerned because it might get out of hand. So he said, "I might declare martial law".'
Movement Against Tyranny has announced that it will be holding a protest on September 21, the 45-year anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposing his military rule.
The coalition voiced outrage at Duterte's public support for Marcos, who was overthrown in the 'People Power' revolution in 1986 and was exiled to the US where he died three years later.
The announcement for the protest said its theme was: 'Stop the Killings! Never Again to Tyranny and Dictatorship!'
Duterte won last year's presidential elections on a brutal law-and-order platform in which he promised an unprecedented campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing up to 100,000 traffickers and addicts.
Police have reported killing more than 3,800 people in anti-drug operations since he took office 15 months ago, while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.
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