A research firm on Friday said a return to dictatorship was highly unlikely in the Philippines even as President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated threats to impose martial law and to suspend barangay or village elections have heightened political instability. The President previously threatened to impose martial law only in Mindanao should local governments fail to address the security situation in the region, but it appears that the scope has been widened to the entire nation, BMI noted. BMI also kept it gross domestic product growth forecast for the Philippines unchanged at 6.3 percent for 2017 for the time being, but noted that a nationwide martial law would likely dampen the growth outlook. Second, BMI pointed out that although President Duterte has repeatedly threatened to impose martial law, he has also said that it was unnecessary, suggesting that it would be the last resort. “In addition, the President will need to submit a report to Congress within 48 hours of declaring martial law, and the congress will have the final say in whether to revoke or extend the martial law,” it concluded.

Source: Manila Times March 24, 2017 16:52 UTC