MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has set on Jan. 22 and 23 the oral arguments on the petition filed by Albay (1st District) Representative Edcel Lagman against the third extension of martial law in Mindanao.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Court Administrator and Spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said parties in the suit have been directed to file their comment within seven days. A preliminary conference before the oral arguments between the parties have also been scheduled.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said Malacañang is confident that the High Court would uphold the continued imposition of martial law in Mindanao and dismiss the petition.
Panelo explained that the grounds cited by members of the opposition in questioning the third extension of martial law are more or less similar with the grounds cited in their previous petition to nullify the second extension of martial law, which was dismissed by the SC
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after Maute terrorists attacked Marawi City.
Martial law in Mindanao has been granted an extension for three times, the most recent extension will be from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019.