Alejano on Duterte to Pull Out Military Forces in Marawi if SC Orders Him: “He's Only Bluffing”

“He is only bluffing!” This is what Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano said when asked if he believes that President Rodrigo Duterte was serious when he said he is ready pull out security forces from Marawi City if the Supreme Court (SC) orders him to. He made his statement in an exclusive interview with ANC live this Sunday, June 18.



"It is just an exaggeration on the part of the President because we know the President, he's has been doing that," Rep Alejano said, who filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte last May. However, it was immediately scrapped by the House of Representatives, which said that the basis for the impeachment case is only hearsay, and therefore invalid.

"It will not remove the power from the President to call out the Armed Forces to address security issues in the country," he added, referring to the Martial Law in the entire Mindanao issued by President Duterte on May 23 as an immediate response to the attack of terrorists Maute group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, and fought against the government forces.

Alejano, who along with Senator Antonio Trillanes filed additional complaint against Duterte at at the International Criminal Court (ICC) early this month, noted that the Martial Law in Mindanao has no effect, simply because the president can still can order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to respond to various security issues in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Alejano was also asked about his thoughts on President Duterte not being seen on public for 5 consecutive days since Sunday, June 11. "Well he deserves the rest he needed. But of course you cannot avoid but question the absence of the President, considering the fact that he is already old and he admitted publicly that he is sick," He said.



This Saturday, President Duterte announced that he is ready to withdraw government troops in Marawi City once the SC decides that there is no factual basis for his declaration of martial law in Mindanao. However, he emphasized that if there is against violence in Mindanao and other parts of the country, he will declare it again without consulting anybody.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida