President Duterte himself must state that he does not intend to declare martial law outside the parameters and restrictions of the Constitution, instead of his subalterns making the clarifications who could misread the President’s mindset.

Both Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo maintain that Duterte will not impose martial law.

However, neither Aguirre nor Panelo were consulted by the President before he declared his latest resolve to impose martial law at all costs if the drug problem becomes virulent.

The after-the-fact clarifications of Duterte’s men are meant to minimize and deodorize the adverse impact of the President’s outbursts, but cannot obliterate the perilous import of his categorical pronouncement.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN