Constitution mandates joint session to discuss martial law declaration —solon

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Tuesday insisted on the need for a joint session to discuss the report of President Rodrigo Duterte on his martial law declaration in Mindanao, noting that the Constitution mandates it.

"Ginigiit natin 'yung joint session dahil 'yan ang tungkulin na tinatakda ng Konstitusyon sa Kongreso. Katulad ng binanggit ko kagabi noong tumayo ako," Tinio said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Kumbaga hindi business as usual ang sitwasyon ngayon. Nagdeklara ng martial law at nag-suspend ng privilege of writ of habeas corpus ang Presidente sa almost one-third ng populasyon ng Pilipinas, buong Mindanao. Hindi puwedeng business as usual lang kami doon," he added.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 following clashes between government forces and the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President may declare martial law in any part of the country for a period of 60 days.

Both houses of Congress, voting jointly, may revoke or extend the proclamation while the SC may invalidate the martial law declaration within 30 days after a petition is filed.

Leaders of both Senate and the House of Representatives have thumbed down the joint session on Duterte’s martial law report.

However, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas made the motion for the House of Representatives to convene as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday morning to discuss the official report submitted by Duterte on his martial law declaration in Mindanao.

The move, approved via a resounding “aye,” is consistent with House leaders’ firm stand that the Senate and the House need not convene a joint session to discuss the report.

In his initial motion, Fariñas said the Committee of the Whole will meet in an executive session with members of Duterte’s Cabinet for a briefing on the martial law declaration.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Tinio, however, stood to object.

Tinio emphasized that under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate and House of Representatives only have the power to revoke the proclamation when both would convene jointly.

"Pero para sa atin, dahil sa karanasan natin sa martial law, nasa Konstitusyon mismo to prevent this abuse of power by the President, the possible abuse of power. May dalawang institusyon—Kongreso 'yung isa, Supreme Court 'yung isa—ay binigyan ng kapangyarihan na mag-review sa marital law power ng Presidente," Tinio said on Tuesday.

"Para sa amin, bilang paggalang, respeto at pagpapatupad doon sa responsibilidad na 'yan, kailangan ng joint session dahil Congress in joint session lamang ang may kapangyarihan na magbawi at mag-revoke dito," he added.

"Kasi kung mag-meet kami as a House lang, wala naman kaming kapangyarihan na gumawa ng kahit ano in respect to martial law, particularly to revoke by ourselves kung hiwalay ang House at Senate. Kailangan magkasama so kaya kami nag-i-insist na kailangan magkaroon ng joint session," he further said.

Against martial law

Tinio then pointed out that he does not agree with the said declaration as it was unnecessary.

"Hindi kami pabor sa buong Mindanao, una sa Marawi mismo...Sinasabi nila under control na ang sitwasyon sa Marawi and they are now doing mop-up operation. So para sa kanila patapos na dapat ang krisis na ito," Tinio said.

"Yes, totoo, mayroong sitwasyon sa Marawi. Hindi natin minamaliit 'yung banta diyan pero kahit balikan natin in the past, 'yung panahon ng Ipil siege, more recently 'yung Zamboanga, malaki pa nga 'yung banta doon at tsaka 'yung pinsala sa taong bayan. Hindi naman kinailangan ng martial law," he added.

"Hindi kailangan ng martial law sa Marawi. Mas lalong hindi kailangan sa buong Mindanao, Tinio said.

He alleged that Duterte's report saying that the Maute group has taken over a hospital in Marawi City was proven to be untrue.

"Lalo pa't nakita natin 'yung report ng Presidente... In fact kaya kami nabahala na may mga claims doon na proven na hindi naman totoo. Katulad nung tinake over daw ang hospital sa Marawi. Mga personnel mismo ng hospital sinabi na hindi nangyari 'yon. Nasa report 'yun ng Presidente," Tinio said.

"Hindi maaaring pumayag ang Kongreso na ibatay ang deklarasyon ng martial law sa fake news, sa exaggerated reports, sa mga hindi matibay na batayan. Otherwise, 'pag napalagpas ito ay maaaring ganoon na lang kadaling magdeklara," he added.

Tinio further said: "In the end, it's a number's game. Pero para sa amin importante na tungkulin ng Kongreso na marinig ang lahat ng panig. Kaming tumututol lalo na ay magpaliwanag. At mahalaga rin ang magiging papel ng public opinion dito. Kahit naman noon, sa kasaysayan natin, ang nakatigil sa martial law in the end ay 'yung taong bayan." —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News