Why some House members voted against extended Mindanao martial law

Opposition lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Saturday insisted that there was no need to extend martial law in Mindanao.

A total of 14 lawmakers voted against President Rodrigo Duterte's proposal to Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao until December 31.

Explaining her vote, ACT Teacher's party-list Representative France Castro said that martial law in Mindanao, which is already being implemented for two months, should end immediately.

"Hanggang sa ngayon ay walang napapatunayang aktwal na rebelyon sa buong Mindanao. Rebelyon at invasion lamang ang pinapayagan ng Kostitusyon na maging dahilan ng pagpataw at pag-extend ng martial law — hindi lawless violence, drugs, o iba pang criminal activities, o ang di nilinaw na terminong 'peace spoilers,'" Castro said.

"Hindi pa rin napapatunayan ang isa pang hinihingi ng Konstitusyon na 'public safety requires it' o 'kapag kinakailangan ng kaligtasan pambayan,'" she added.

Fellow ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio echoed Castro's sentiments, noting that there was not enough basis to extend martial law in Mindanao.

"Malinaw po na umiiral nang buo at 100 percent, walang bawas, walang kulang, ang gobyernong sibilyan, maging antas nasyunal o lokal sa kabuuan ng Mindanao," he said.

"Kaya kailangan po itaguyod ng Kongresong ito ang prinsipyo ng civilian supremacy over the military," he added.

For his part, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said he voted against the extension as it is excessive and inhumane.

"Kalabisan ang pagpataw ng martial law. Kalabisan ang suspension ng writ of habeas corpus. Kalabisan na sakupin nito ang buong Mindanao," he said.

"Kalabisan ang saklawin ang lahat ng mga armadong pwersang kumikilos sa Mindanao. Lalong kalabisan ang ekstensyon o pagpapalawig ng Martial Law," he added.

Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over the decision.

"It is a sad day for democracy and rule of law. Martial law extension, while vested in Congress, gives a false appreciation and an unbridled application of the recent Supreme Court decision," he said.

"It is false as it does not vest extra powers to the President. It does not give him steroids. It is much ado about nothing to counter terrorism," he added.

Quezon City Representative Jose Christopher "Kit" Belmonte, for his part, said he does not agree with the extension of martial law for 150 more days.

"To do so would normalize the environment of military rule reserved only for the most extraordinary of times. To do so may set a dangerous precedent of normalising authoritarianism. To do so may have the effect of destroying the very institutions we have sworn to preserve," he said.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Emmi De Jesus said that with this approval of the request to extend martial law, Congress chose to turn a blind eye on abuses that the Marcos martial law has brought.

"Sa pag-apruba ng extension ng batas militar sa Mindanao, pinili ng Kongreso na maging bulag sa mahalagang aral ng kasaysayan na ito. Ang masahol pa, lumabas sa interpelasyon na wala naman talagang aktwal na rebelyon sa iba pang bahagi ng Mindanao," she said.

"Mr. Speaker, hindi pwedeng magbulag-bulagan ang Kongreso sa kawalan ng mga kongkretong batayan ng rebelyon at threat to public safety. At lalong hindi pwedeng sang-ayunan ng Kongreso ang pagpapahaba ng deklarasyon ng batas-militar sa Mindanao na walang pag-internalize ng human rights violations sa ilalim ng martial law," she added.

Those who also voted against the extension were Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza, Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr., Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr., Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman. —ALG, GMA News