In response to the petition of some opposition lawmakers to stop the implementation of one-year Martial Law extension in Mindanao, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said that President Rodrigo Duterte will never allow a Martial Law in perpetuity.
“Martial law in perpetuity is a scenario that neither the President, Congress or the Supreme Court will allow as it is patently unconstitutional,” Roque said in a statement.
“On the petitioners’ allegations that martial law may lead to “extension in perpetuity,” these are mere surmises and conjectures and not supported by law and the Constitution,” Roque said.
On Wednesday, December 27, opposition lawmakers appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) to invalidate the one-year martial law extension and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to Mindanao that was recently requested by President Rodrigo Duterte and approved by the Congress.
The petitioners said that they find no factual basis to implement the extension, saying there was “no actual rebellion” happening in the region. They added that it “must be actual and not contingent” to justify martial law.
Roque, however, said that factual bases for extending martial law have been clearly established.
“Congress has overwhelmingly approved by a 240-27 vote the further extension of the proclamation of martial law. The legal and factual bases of the martial law extension have been clearly established based on the security assessment by our ground commanders,” Roque said.
In October, Duterte formally asked the Congress for the extension of Martial Law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire Mindanao after receiving further recommendations from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
The president said that the martial law extension will help the government to completely suppress the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao.