Enrile: Arroyo 'stupid' if she declares martial law

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would have to be “tanga" (stupid) if she declares Martial Law to perpetuate herself in power, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Thursday. Enrile said even former president Ferdinand Marcos, whom he describes as "brilliant," spent three years analyzing the situation before declaring Martial Law in 1972. Enrile was the country's defense minister at that time. “Hindi ganoon-ganoon lang ang magdeklara ng Martial Law. Kailangang pag-iisipan, aanalisahin, aaralin. E, kung may magmungkahi niyan palagay ko 'di naman tanga ang Presidente. Kung gagawin niya 'yan siguro sasabihin ko sa kanya: ‘Tanga ka' dahil di ganoon kadali ang mag-martial law," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. [It’s not that easy to declare Martial Law. There are so many factors to consider. If somebody would propose such a move to the president, I think she is not stupid to give in to it. If she would I’ll tell her: ‘You are stupid' because it's not that easy to declare Martial Law.] Enrile said Marcos planned his moves from 1969 to 1972, and made sure he had the support of the military and the public. Mrs. Arroyo’s popularity ratings have been consistently low in recent years, and critics claim that declaring Martial Law is one option for her to stay in power after her term ends on June 30 next year. Another option for Mrs. Arroyo is to push for revisions in the 1987 constitution that will allow her to run as congresswoman of Pampanga province and get herself elected as Prime Minister, if the system of government is changed from the presidential to a parliamentary form. - GMANews.TV