Makabayan bloc calls for joint session to revoke martial law

The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives on Tuesday filed a joint resolution seeking to convene both chambers of Congress in a joint session to revoke President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration placing Mindanao under martial law.

While the matter has repeatedly been raised by opposition lawmakers, this is the first formal motion for this, made amid pronouncements of Congress leaders that a joint session is unnecessary since majority are supportive of the declaration.

“There is thus a need for both Houses of Congress to perform their official and constitutional mandate with respect the President’s exercise of his under Art. VII, Sec. 18 of the 1987 Constitution, and to set the proper venue for debate and interpellation,” the joint resolution read.

The Makabayan bloc is composed of seven lawmakers: Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate; ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas; Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao; and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.

A similar resolution has been filed by the minority bloc at the Senate.

‘Outright false’

Despite alliance with the supermajority, they said many of the claims that Duterte made in his report to Congress were “inaccurate, grossly exaggerated, or outright false.”

“[N]o proof or evidence is provided in the President’s report to support the claim that  the terroristic acts of violence perpetrated by the armed groups in Marawi are acts of rebellion for the purpose of establishing ‘the groups’ seat of power in Marawi City for their planned establishment of a DAESH wilayat or province covering the entire Mindanao,’” they said.

They noted the following among those false claims:

• the Maute group’s attack on the Amai Pakpak Hospital and hostage taking of its employees — “The hospital chief himself belied this allegation”;
• the ambush and burning of the Marawi Police Station — “The Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra belied this allegation”;
• the killing of five faculty members of the Dansalan College Foundation;
• takeover on various government facilities, which was also belied by Mayor Gandamra.

The lawmakers reiterated that the terrorist actions in Marawi City “do not warrant” the imposition of martial law, nor the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus there, since authorities “have repeatedly declared that the situation is ‘under full control.’”

They further noted that Duterte’s declaration “is entirely bereft of factual basis.”

“If left unchallenged, the imposition of martial law in Mindanao could just be a prelude to similar declarations of military rule in other parts of, or the entire country in the immediate future,” they said.

“The acts of terrorism of the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf must be condemned.  The government can secure public safety through existing laws and resources without resorting to martial law. Imposing martial law and curtailing civil and political rights of those in Mindanao is a ‘cure’ that is worse than the disease,” they added. — RSJ, GMA News