Minority leaders in the House of Representatives have filed an appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
The motion for reconsideration has been submitted on Friday, a day before Congress holds a joint session to rule on Duterte’s request for martial law extension.
Those who filed the appeal were Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and representatives Tomas Villarin (Akbayan party-list), Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list), Emmanuel Billones (Capiz) and Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao).
The opposition members told the high tribunal that it granted the executive branch excessive leeway in the use of emergency powers.
They stated in their motion that “this defeatist stance erodes the [Supreme Court’s] prerogative not only to sanction the President’s failure to pass the test of factual sufficiency for his declaration or suspension, but also to protect the citizens’ civil liberties from transgression as a result of an improvident and unconstitutional exercise of martial law powers by an errant President."
The Supreme Court affirmed Duterte’s Proclamation 216 last July 4, 2017.
Malacañang cited rebellion as justification for martial law, but lawmakers in the opposition claimed what is taking place in Marawi City is lawless violence.