Sereno orders courts to be open in Mindanao amid Martial Law

In view of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao for 60 days, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday directed all courts in the island to remain open and all judges to report to their respective stations as far as local circumstances may allow. (PNA photo)

As events unfold following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law on Mindanao in response to the Maute attack in Marawi City on Wednesday, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno ordered all Mindanao courts to remain open in the entire region.

The Supreme Court Public Information Office issued a statement ordering all courts to be open and judges to remain in station “as far as their local circumstances may allow”.

The statement also stated that Sereno asks all judges stationed in Mindanao to “report their current and continuing status to the Office of the Court Administrator through their respective Executive Judges.”

After declaring martial law, President Duterte is scheduled to submit a report to the Congress within 48 hours in order for members of the House to approve or revoke the declaration while the Supreme Court “may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or the extension thereof and muse promulgate its decision thereon within thirty days from its filing.”

As of the moment, government forces report that the situation has been stabilized, however, everyone is on high alert as various reports of abductions and other acts of violence have surfaced and are yet to be confirmed.