SC holds oral arguments on Mindanao martial law

The Supreme Court on Tuesday started the oral arguments on President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

The oral arguments started at past 10 a.m. and was suspended at 12 noon. It was expected to resume at 2 p.m.

The court is hearing the consolidated petitions filed by a group of opposition congressmen led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, activists and militant lawmakers, and four women residents of Marawi City - the sight of vicious fighting between government troops and the local Maute terror group.

Duterte placed the whole of Mindanao under martial law for 60 days after Maute group-led terror organizations attempted to establish an Islamic State province in the island group by assaulting Marawi City on May 23.

The petitioners have argued that the declaration should be struck down as unconstitutional because of a lack of sufficient factual basis.

Solicitor General Jose Calida, representing the executive, defended the proclamation by arguing that the petitioners "miserably failed" to ascribe grave abuse of discretion on the president in its issuance. —report from Virgil Lopez/ALG, GMA News