Liberal senators oppose Martial Law extension

FILE: Drilon emphasized that the additional one year is unconstitutional.
(PNA photo)

Senator Franklin Drilon on Wednesday, December 13 warned that President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend Martial Law and suspend the privilege of Writ of Habeas Corpus in the entire Mindanao could be a prelude to a nationwide Martial Law.

Drilon questioned how the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippine (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) suddenly became the President’s basis for extending martial rule for another whole year.

“The President cited the NPA for the first time in this extension, the NPA was not cited in original request. The NPA has been there for the last 4 decades, suddenly in the extension request today, the NPA is cited as an additional ground for martial law extension in Mindanao. Mr President, I end this intervention with a question: Is this now a prelude to declaring martial law nationwide?” Drilon said.

For the record, Duterte cited in his letter of recommendation to the Congress that the continuous threat of terrorism and rebellion in Mindanao carried out by the Reds makes the region “the hotbed of rebellion.”

Duterte also included in his basis the ongoing massive recruitment activity in some parts near Marawi which was earlier reported by Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong.

Drilon emphasized that the additional one year is unconstitutional as the constitution clearly states that the Congress can only extend martial law in case of actual, public uprising and taking arms against the government.

“The Constitution is clear that Congress can only extend the proclamation of martial law in case of actual, public uprising and taking arms against the government,” he said.

The Senator further said that an actual armed conflict is the basis for the continued declaration of martial law.
“The government through Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared the rebellion in Marawi City to have been terminated and no longer exists. It is on this basis that we believe that the continued imposition of martial law up to Dec. 31 is unconstitutional,” Drilon added.

‘Not the solution’

Meawhile, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros said that martial extension will not address NPA’s abuses.

“Martial Law is not the solution. It is not a silver bullet or a quick fix for all of our social ills. It will not bring us nearer to peace,” Hontiveros said.

She stressed that what is needed is for the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) is to fully implement the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

“I challenge both President Rodrigo Duterte and the leaders of the CPP-NPA to choose peace,” Hontiveros added.

‘Threat to democracy and peace’

Aside from the two Senators, the coalition group Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) also appealed to the Congress on Tuesday, December 13 to reject the recommendation of the chief executive to extend the martial law.

The group said that the extension of Martial Law is “patently unconstitutional and a threat to democracy and peace in the whole country” added that it fails to meet the constitutional requirements.

MAT said that the ongoing rebellion and heightened activities of the Reds in Mindanao are better to be addressed by comprehensive peace negotiations rather than all-out-war.