President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday threatened Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that he would declare martial law if the Supreme Court would hinder his war against illegal drugs.
“Ikaw ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, Presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw wala. Walang mga judges na nagpa-patrol ng daan. Walang mga sheriff ninyo na naghuhuli,” Duterte said in a scathing speech against Sereno at the 4th Infantry Batallion in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City.
“Please huwag mo ako … hindi ako … di ako gago. If this continues, pigilin mo ako, sige ‘pag nagwala, would you rather that I declare martial law?” he said.
The President’s statement came a day after Sereno questioned allegations that seven judges had been involved in illegal drugs. Sereno said only the high court was authorized to discipline members of the judiciary.
Duterte warned Sereno not to create a constitutional crisis.
“Ikaw warning-an ko: Don’t create crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you,” he said.
Duterte said naming in public those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade was part of his duty as the country’s Chief Executive.
“I never accuse anybody except to read their names. It was not an accusatorial utterance. It is in consonance to my duty as President of Philippines,” he said.
“You know Chief Justice, there is a slaughter going on. Mind you, you are appointed by the government there in your office as Chief Justice at a time na wala ginagawa ang government. Why wait for warrant of arrest? There are 600,000, hundreds of thousands addicted,” the President said.
“Please do not create a constitutional issue,” he added.