The Supreme Court (SC) will hear this afternoon the four consolidated petitions against the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The oral arguments will begin at 2 pm.
This is day one of two en banc sessions for the issue on martial law.
Tomorrow, the high tribunal will hold a second round of oral arguments.
The SC justices are tackling four consolidated petitions.
The first petition was filed by the minority bloc of the House of Representatives.
The second petition came from human rights organizations.
Former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales filed the third petition.
The fourth petition was submitted by former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson Christian Monsod.
Named respondents were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces Chief of Staff (AFP) Rey Guerrero, Senate President Koko Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
The petitioners say, the respondents lack sufficient basis to extend martial law in Mindanao.
They cite as reasons the liberation of Marawi and the deaths of Maute terrorist leaders who led the invasion of the city.
Congress had approved the extension of martial law in the south in December last year.
After today's proceeding, both the petitioners and respondents will submit their memoranda providing further explanations on the answers to the questions justices will raise during the 2 hearings.
