Duterte cannot ignore SC, Congress regarding martial law —Escudero

President Rodrigo Duterte cannot ignore the Supreme Court and Congress amid the martial law implementation in Mindanao as its parameters are defined under the 1987 Constitution, Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday said.

"Hindi po pupuwede 'yon dahil hindi nasususpindi ang pag-operate ng court. Ang Saligang Batas ang epektibo pa rin at ang tanging puwedeng mag-issue ng warrant ay korte pa rin," Escudero said in an interview on GMA News' "Hirit ni Mareng Winnie."

"Sa ilalim kasi ng Saligang Batas, sa totoo lang wala naman na ngipin 'yung martial law. Mas psychological 'yun more than anything else. Halimbawa, may nagbanggit na military official na puwede raw silang mag-take-over ng certain establishments. Actually nakasulat 'yon ng prangkisa eh... na in time of national emergency when a public interest requires, puwedeng mag-take-over ang gobyerno after paying just compensation subject to reasonable guidelines even without martial law," he added.

On May 23, Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao, effective for 60 days, following clashes between government troops and the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

Duterte earlier said he will ignore the Supreme Court and Congress as he enforces martial law across Mindanao.

"Until the police and the armed forces say the Philippines is safe, this martial law will continue. I will not listen to others. The Supreme Court, Congress, they are not here," Duterte told soldiers.

"Are they the ones dying and losing blood, bleeding, hemorrhaging because there is no help, no reinforcement? It's not them," he added.

The senators were briefed on Monday afternoon by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Duterte's martial law declaration in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Escudero emphasized that the rules of court would remain despite the proclamation.

"Actually 'yung napakinggan ko 'yung ilang parte ng briefing, akala nila may dagdag silang kapangyarihan eh. Pero sa totoo lang wala eh. Ang pagkakaiba lang ng martial law sa ordinaryong pamumuhay natin, puwedeng gamitin ng Pangulo ang militar para gampanan ang tungkulin na tradisyonal na ginagampanan ng pulis which is law enforcement," he said.

"Pero lahat ng 'yun, mag-a-apply pa rin ang rules. Sabi nila puwede na silang mag-warrantless arrest. Ngayon naman puwede ang warrantless arrest kung in flagrante delicto, nasa akto ng pag-commit ng crime. Parang rebelyon o kung in hot pursuit, sa ilalim ng martial law, doon lang din nila puwedeng gawin 'yun," he added.

"Hindi na sila puwedeng basta-basta manghuli. Hindi na uso ang ASSO ngayon, 'yung arrest, search and seizure (order)." —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News