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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017INSERT DATE HERE!
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MANILA – Opposition representatives challenged the martial law in Mindanao before the Supreme Court on Monday.
There was no basis for such declaration, according to petitioners Edcel Lagman, Tomasito Villarin, Gary Alejano, Emmanuel Billones, Teddy Baguilat Jr., and Edgar Erice.
“We ask the SC (Supreme Court) to exercise its specific and special jurisdiction to review the sufficiency of the factual basis of the Proclamation that imposed martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao,” read part of the petition.
Since there was “no rebellion or invasion,” there was no factual basis for martial law, Lagman told the press.
The ongoing clashes between state troops and the Maute terror group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur started with a military operation to arrest Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the congressman said.
“Wala namang rebelyon or invasion sa Marawi o sa buong Mindanao,” Lagman said. “Inamin din naman ng mga military na ang giyera ay dahil sa military operation para hulihin si Hapilon.”
Following the clashes President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire southern major island under military rule on May 23.
In a report submitted to Congress on May 25, Duterte cited the series of violent acts initiated by the Maute group in Butig, Lanao del Sur in February 2016, which led to the killing and wounding of several soldiers and the mass jailbreak in Marawi City in August 2016, and the reported takeover of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center, also in Marawi.
Sources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines claimed that security officials did not recommend the declaration of martial law despite the rising death toll in the war-torn city, Alejano said.
“Did security officials recommend the declaration of martial law or was it the President’s own decision?” he said. “If the Armed Forces is saying that everything is under control, bakit pa tayo nagde-declare ng martial law?”
Earlier Duterte said he will ignore Congress and the Supreme Court in carrying out martial law.
“Hanggang hindi sinabi ng pulis pati Armed Forces na safe na ang Philippines, this martial law will continue,” he told soldiers in Jolo, Sulu. “Hindi ako makinig sa iba. Mga Supreme Court, iyong mga congressman, wala man sila dito.”
The Constitution provides that Congress may revoke the proclamation, while the high tribunal may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the sufficiency of the factual basis for it.
But Malacañang clarified that Duterte was just emphasizing that police and the military know the situation on the ground best.
“This is not meant to bypass the Supreme Court or the legislative (branch),” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “It simply means to say that those who have true and accurate reports on which he (Duterte) will depend on will be the military and the PNP (Philippine National Police).”/PN
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