Malacañang confident SC will dismiss Lagman petition vs. martial law extension

Malacañang on Sunday expressed its confidence that impending petitions to stop the martial law in Mindanao will be dismissed by the Supreme Court (SC).

"The Executive remains confident that the High Court would uphold the continued imposition of martial law in Mindanao and dismiss the petition filed by Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Just last week, a 46-page petition led by Lagman asked the SC to declare as unconstitutional the third extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the write of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao.

"The grounds cited by the 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 petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court," said Panelo.

"No new new arguments have been presented while rebellion and the threat to public safety in Mindanao remain. Case law therefore dictates that the current petition merits dismissal as well," he elaborated.

In February 2018, the Supreme Court junked petitions seeking to nullify the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, deciding that the President and Congress had "sufficient factual bases" to extend it on account of the supposed continued persistence of the rebellion that gave rise to the Marawi crisis.

"We reiterate that rebellion is a complex matter that cannot be solved overnight. The continuing rebellion in Mindanao as well as the demands of public safety require the continued operation of martial law in that area—a view shared by our lawmakers, the grounds cited therefore being met as required by the Constitution," said Panelo. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News