Not an option, but a sword of Damocles.

The threat of declaring martial law is not an option which President Duterte can brandish about.

The threat is a virtual sword of Damocles looming over the heads of even the legitimate political dissenters, oppositionists and activists.

Perils endanger even the best of intentions.

It is not to quell the violence which no less than the administration has fomented, encouraged and condoned like the unabated extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects related to the deadly anti-drug campaign.

It is more to instill fear to dissuade people from expressing even constructive criticism.

A thoughtless articulation of possible suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or declaration of martial law must be recanted unconditionally to quash the catastrophic alarm which it has provoked.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN