Sotto clarifies remark on needless martial law if Duterte signs anti-terror bill

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday clarified that he was referring to the situation in Mindanao when he said martial law would no longer be needed if the anti-terror bill is enacted.

In a tweet, Sotto said retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio digested his previous remark "out of context."

"I was talking of martial law in Mindanao. DND (Department of National Defense) told us no need. Alamin muna story bago react," Sotto said.

Earlier in the day, Carpio said he agreed with Sotto that martial law would be unnecessary if the anti-terror bill got the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The country will "permanently" be in a situation "worse than martial law" upon the controversial bill's enactment, according to Carpio.

The former justice underscored that unlike martial law, which suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for not more than 60 days, the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act would remain in the statute books forever until repealed by Congress or invalidated by the Supreme Court."

Last week, Sotto was quoted as saying in a radio interview that martial law would already be unnecessary if the anti-terror bill becomes a law.

The following day, he also emphasized that he was referring to Mindanao.

"Hindi ba may martial law sa Mindanao? Paulit-ulit na hinihiling sa amin na iextend, hindi ba? Ang sabi sa amin sa mga hearings, ang sabi ng Department of National Defense, pagka meron ng anti-terror law na pwede nilang habulin 'yung mga terrorista, at magkaroon sila ng ngipin at hindi na takot 'yung mga enforcer natin na labanan itong mga terrorista na ito, hindi na nila hihilingin ang martial law. Hindi na kailangan ang martial law," Sotto said.

The martial law in Mindanao, however, ended on December 31, 2019—more than two years after it was declared by Duterte in May 2017 when the Maute group laid siege in the Islamic City of Marawi.

The state of national emergency on account of lawless violence has been retained in Mindanao even though the martial law was lifted. -NB, GMA News