MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Thursday he may impose martial law and suspend elections for tens of thousands of local posts, fuelling concerns about democracy under his rule. “If I declare martial law, I will finish all the problems, not just drugs,” Duterte told reporters in a pre-dawn briefing after returning from neighbouring Thailand, which is under military rule. Duterte said that, as part of martial law, he may create military courts to hear cases against terrorists. On Thursday he gave an emphatic case for martial law, saying it would stop the Philippines from “exploding”. He will keep on pushing the boundaries until he feels he is able to get it (martial law) through,” Trillanes told Agence France-Presse.

Source: Manila Times March 23, 2017 03:33 UTC