MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he might order the suspension of work in government offices and classes in Metro Manila on September 21, the 45th anniversary of the Marcos-era martial law, as various groups are set to mount protest actions on that day.

"This early, I am announcing that I am ordering a holiday para walang masaktan, walang ano kung may demonstration diyan, magkagulo,” Duterte said in an interview on PTV-4 aired on September 14.

"Walang trabaho ang gobyerno ‘yang araw na 'yan at ang klase suspended. At lahat ng public places dito na gusto ninyong i-occupy, kunin ninyo."

The President did not mention a specific date, but various groups have already announced plans to hold protests on September 21.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also presumed that the date Duterte was referring to was September 21, since “the Left was threatening to have this massive demonstration on the 21st.”

“During my interaction with him early this week sinabi niya kapag magkaroon ng massive rally sa Metro Manila, and it will inconvenience the public, hindi ko sila papapasukin,” Lorenzana told reporters in a news conference in Malacañang.

In the interview, Duterte said while he may allow protesters to go to the streets, they should not vandalize.

“‘Yung effigy ko sunugin ninyo. Make an effigy, 'yung kamukha ko. Maski isang libo,” he said.

He also issued a warning against the left-leaning protesters against bringing armed men to the protest actions.

"Huwag kayong magpapasok ng sabihin niyo red army ninyo na may armas. Huwag kayong magkamali na magsira diyan, sira dito because if you do it, the next thing, ang kaharap ninyo would be the military and the police," he said.

The President has been at loggerheads with left-leaning groups since the breakdown of peace talks between the government and National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panels.

He earlier warned that he might declare martial law in the entire Philippines if the communist threat will grow.

Lorenzana, however, said this scenario is unlikely, citing the supposed weakened force of the communist rebels.