In his public address on April 23, 2020 President Duterte threatened to declare martial law if lawlessness committed by the communist rebels continued during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 23, 2020.
Transcribed and translated by my wife.
“We are all at risk but do not increase the odds or the chances of the getting it. I never said, I will declare martial law.
Kasi martial law para lang yan sa mga rebelde para sa mga komunista.
(because martial law is just for the Rebels for the Communist.)
Now let me be very clear on this, if the lawlessness which is imposed on us by the NPA's (New People's Army) for the longest time, 53 years,
maski saang probinsya may NPA kanina o kahapon dalawang ARMY nag-escourt para i.deliver ang mga supply sa mga tao pati pera pinatay ninyo.
(in every province they will have New People's Army. Since yesterday, two people of the Philippine Army was too deliver food and money to the people but you've killed them.)
If that is that a lawlessness? What is that? Tell me!
kaya ngayon kapag nagpatuloy kayo ng lawlessness ninyo patay dito patay doon
(So now if you have to continue this lawlessness, kill here and there)
and it's happening all over the Philippines. Maybe I will declare martial law because
kayong mga NPA ang numero uno. Kinukuha ninyo iyong tulong sa tao pati iyong supply pagkain nila.
you NPA's are number one violator. You’re taking away the food and other assistance from the people
Kaya (so), i am now warning everybody and putting notice to the Armed Force's and the police. I might declare martial law and there will be no turning back.
Kung ano ang martial law na klaseng gagawin ko akin lang yan, pero kung gusto ninyo kasi pinagpapatay ninyo mga sundalo ko pati pulis na wala naman ginawa kung hindi samahan lang iyong nagde-deliver ng pera pati pagkain.
(On what kind of martial law I will declare,..
