Nina LEONEL M. ABASOLA, GENALYN D. KABILING, AARON B. RECUENCO, BETH CAMIA, at SAMUEL P. MEDENILLA
Ang Kongreso ang may natatanging kakayahan na magpalawig ng martial law, at hindi si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Ito ang nilinaw ni Senador Franklin Drilon.
“The Constitution is clear that it is Congress that has the power to extend martial law and the President may only recommend,” ani Drilon.
“You cannot circumvent the Constitution. Huwag naman sana nating lokohin ang taumbayan. Let us not try to go around with the Constitutional requirements. Let us respect the process,” diin ni Drilon.
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Binaggit niya ang Section 18, Article VII ng Saligang Batas na nagsasabing “upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”
Sinabi naman ng Palasyo na hindi basta-basta magdedesisyon ang Pangulo na palawigin ang martial law sa Mindanao.
Ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, hihintayin ng Pangulo ang rekomendasyon ng militar, pulisya, at iba pang stakeholders kung kinakailangan bang palawigin ang batas militar sa katimugan ng bansa.
“As far as the extension of martial law, the President has said in numerous occasions, it would first and foremost depend on the assessment and recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP (Philippine National Police) and other stakeholders,” pahayag ni Abella sa news conference sa Palasyo.
“In other words, it will have to be a whole government approach, a whole system approach. His assessment will not be based on one or two facts, it will be based on the recommendation of these
Sinabi naman ni chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo na mayroong kapangyarihan ang Pangulo na maglabas ng isa pang proklamasyon sa martial law, kung kinakailangan. “If Congress does not extend on the 60th day upon initiative of the President then there can be no extension. Another proclamation is necessary,” ani Panelo.
Samantala, wala pang pormal na rekomendasyon ang pulisya at ang militar sa Pangulo kaugnay sa pagpapalawig ng martial law sa Mindanao.
Sinabi ni PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa hindi nila napag-usapan ng Pangulo ang isyu nang martial law nitong Martes.
“I have not mentioned it basically because it was not asked by the President. And since I was not asked, I think it would be better if I just remain silent on it,” ani Dela Rosa.
Ngunit kapag tinanong siya, sasabihin diumano niya sa Pangulo na nagkasundo sila ni AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Ano na dapat palawigin ang martial law sa Mindanao.
“Based on the situation in Marawi, we may as well recommend for extension,” ani dela Rosa.
Kumbinsido ang Korte Suprema na may nagaganap na pag-aaklas sa Mindanao at nanganganib ang kaligtasan ng publiko dahilan kaya nito kinatigan ang Proclamation 216 na isinasailalim sa martial law ang Mindanao at sinuspinde ang privilege of the writ of habeas corpus sa rehiyon.
Ito ang nakasaad sa 82-pahinang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na isinulat ni Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo at inilabas kamakalawa ng gabi.
Naalarman naman ang isang opisyal ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) sa nakabibinging pananahimik ng Kongreso sa umiiral na martial martial law.
Ayon kay CBCP - Basic Ecclesial Communities Executive Secretary Fr. Amado Picardal, para pinababayaan ng mga mambabatas ang kanilang mandato sa ilalim ng Constitution kaugnay sa isyu.
“The system of check and balance has weakened,” saad sa pahayag kahapon ni Picardal na pinamagatang “Annus Horribilis.”
