MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday disputed claims the country is returning to martial law and maintained there is no crackdown on critics of the administration. “Definitely we’re not going back there (martial law),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a chance interview. He stressed the filing of cases against some critics of President Duterte like Sens. Panelo was reacting to pronouncements by Robredo, Aquino and other opposition figures that the country appeared to be making a U-turn to martial law. On Saturday, Aquino said the Philippines appeared to be making a U-turn to martial law.

Source: Philippine Star February 26, 2019 20:03 UTC