Marcos Jr.: National territory won’t be diminished

MANILA, Philippines —  There’s no way the national territory would be diminished, President Marcos said yesterday as he declared that any attempt to separate Mindanao from the Philippines is “doomed to fail.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: our national territory will not be diminished, even by one square inch. We will continue to defend from any threats, external and internal. We will not allow even an iota of suggestion of its breaking apart,” Marcos said at an event commemorating Constitution Day in Makati.

In his speech, Marcos branded as a “grave violation of the Constitution” a move to secede Mindanao from the Philippines being spearheaded by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos called on Filipinos to join him in defending the sanctity of the country’s territorial integrity.

He said the Constitution calls for a united and undivided country and does not have a provision allowing its dismemberment.

Marcos said Duterte’s campaign would never take off “for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty.”

He noted that the leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other political leaders of the island have repudiated what he called a “preposterous” proposal.

“This is because there can be, in fact there is already, genuine and effective local autonomy throughout our country, especially in the BARMM, without compromising our national integrity in the slightest degree,” the President said.

“I strongly appeal to all concerned to stop this call for a separate Mindanao. It is a grave violation of our Constitution. This is not the new Philippines we are molding but the dismemberment of our country, the Philippines,” he said.

It was the first time Marcos spoke against the proposal of Duterte, who recently accused him of being a drug addict and who warned him that he could be ousted over a controversial campaign to amend the Constitution through people’s initiative.

Marcos said the Constitution does not recognize the right to rebellion, an act punishable under criminal laws.

“The government has sternly enforced these laws to the letter and spirit, and this administration will be no