Super majority seen to affirm martial law

MANILA, Philippines - Administration allies in the “super majority” in Congress are expected to affirm President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao.

They are awaiting his report on his martial law proclamation and the reasons for it.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Duterte’s proclamation is “necessary to quell lawlessness and terrorism in Mindanao.”

“As a Mindanaoan, I know the situation on the ground. There are terrorists there. Maybe there are also terrorists in Metro Manila and other parts of the country,” Alvarez said as he allayed fears of possible abuses.

“There are safeguards under the Constitution. Even if there is martial law, the courts will continue to function,” he said.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas explained that under the Charter, the President is required to submit a report on his martial law proclamation within 48 hours either in person or in writing.

He said Congress, voting jointly, may revoke such proclamation and the President cannot set aside such revocation.

The legislature may also extend martial law beyond its constitutional life of 60 days upon the request of the President, he said.

“We will have to wait for the report of the President in order for us to exercise our constitutional duty on the matter. In the meantime, we ask our people to remain calm and to keep safe. The Speaker and I will call for the necessary military and police officials to give us a briefing,” he said.

The Charter does not require congressional concurrence on the President’s martial law declaration.

Fariñas said senators and congressmen need not convene in joint session to receive President Duterte’s report on his martial law declaration, since the latter announced upon his arrival at the airport that he would transmit a written report.

“Then, no need to convene,” he said.

Based on news reports from Moscow, the President declared martial law in Mindanao at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night, Manila time.

This means that he has until 10 p.m. today to report to Congress.

Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison said the Marawi City attack “is a wake-up call for the government to spare no holy cows in pulverizing and wiping out the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group who have already pledged loyalty to ISIS,” referring to the Islamic State.

He said the government should “look into the alleged connivance between Sulu local officials and the Abu Sayyaf so that we will be able to neutralize not only the terrorists but also their protectors and coddlers.”

Other administration lawmakers expressed support for the President’s martial law proclamation.

“The quick and decisive moves taken thus far by the President are a clear signal to all that the government is on top of the situation and is capable of and determined to protect the citizenry and businesses by stopping lawless elements from further spreading fear and violence in the South,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.

“I am confident that the government and its armed forces will be able to soon enough restore peace and order in the affected areas and make the IS-affiliated elements account for their dastardly acts,” he said.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said he fully supports Duterte’s decision to impose martial law in Mindanao.

“It is not an easy decision for the President, fully aware of its implications. But it has to be done so that the government can use all its military forces to put an end to terrorism that has gripped the island for far too long,” he said.

“The government needs to flush out all these terrorist groups and hold them accountable under the law,” Castelo said.

Mindanao congressmen, including Alvarez, held a closed-door meeting yesterday on Duterte’s martial law declaration. They refused to issue any statement after the meeting.

One lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said some of his colleagues expressed reservations on placing the entire island of Mindanao under martial law. Lawlessness is confined only to a few areas, he said. 

Protect rights

Senators also voiced support for President Duterte’s martial law declaration but cautioned against suspending the writ of habeas corpus.

“There is no question that the violence perpetrated by the Maute gang of terrorists allegedly in connivance with Abu Sayyaf has to be met by the corresponding force of the government to insure public safety of the residents of Mindanao and the tourists visiting the island,” Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said in statement while en route to Manila from Moscow.

Sen. Francis Escudero, however, said there is no need to hold a joint session since Congress is not expected to revoke the martial law proclamation.

“Congress does not need to affirm the proclamation but can revoke it,” Escudero said.

A simple majority of all the members of Congress is required to revoke the order.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said this would mean the Senate would effectively be irrelevant in the process since the body consists of only 24 members while the House has 292 members.

But with former senator Alan Peter Cayetano now the foreign affairs chief, the Senate is left with only 23 members.

“But again, if the opposition is strong and the Senate itself will have a common stand on what to do with the proclamation by the President, then we may opt to make our voices heard, at least in that joint session,” Lacson said.

The senators held a caucus yesterday to discuss the developments and the possible stance of the chamber. – With Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy