“The ball is now in Congress.”
These are the words of Solicitor General Jose Calida as he appeared in a press conference in Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Friday morning.
Calida was referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s report to Senate and Congress submitted on Wednesday night.
The document contained the justifications of the Commander in Chief in declaring martial law in and in suspending the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.
“I am confident that we will be able to prove there is factual [and] substantial basis in declaring martial law,” Calida told the news conference.
The solicitor general further said, “if Congress will not say anything, then there will be no problem. It will be considered acquiescence (agreement).”
Calida also reported that the same topic was discussed during the special cabinet meeting that President Rodrigo Duterte held on Thursday afternoon at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City.
“The special meeting tackled the situation in Marawi and the executive department’s submission of the report to Congress on the declaration of martial law,” Calida said.
Calida also noted Senate President Koko Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez were guests during the cabinet meeting.
Also present at the news briefing were Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla.
