SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday warned of a possible constitutional crisis if the Supreme Court compels Congress to hold a joint session on President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
“My advice to the petitioners: Go over your law books. How can the Supreme Court dictate to Congress [on] what to do? They are co-equal bodies,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said Congress would defy any Supreme Court directive against the President’s declaration.
“I will tear apart any directive issued by Supreme Court telling Congress, dictating to Congress to convene in a joint session,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said the petitioners have created a situation that could result in a clash between Congress and the Supreme Court.
“There would definitely be a constitutional crisis and it would not be our fault,” Alvarez warned.
He said he could not understand why the petitioners are insisting on a joint session over martial law in Mindanao, since both the Senate and the House of Representatives have adopted their respective resolutions supporting the declaration.
“Maybe the President’s critics are pressing for a joint session of Congress in the hope of creating an opportunity to promote their personal political interests,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said he could not predict what would happen if a constitutional crisis ensues as a result of the petitions filed before the Supreme Court.
However, Alvarez said he is sure of one thing: The House of Representatives would not heed any order from the Supreme Court directing Congress to convene in a joint session.
Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te, meanwhile, said a petition asking the justices to strike down the martial law declaration would not be consolidated with two others asking the Court to compel Congress to convene a joint session.
The first petition filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr., asked the Court to strike down the martial law declaration.
Two other petitions ask the Court to compel Congress to call a joint session to debate the martial law declaration. With Rey E. Requejo