House minority lawmakers have filed a petition before the Supreme Court to nullify President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman led the filing of the petition before the Supreme Court,. Together with Reps. Tomasito Villarin, Gary Alejano, Emmanuel Billones, Teddy Baguilat Jr., and Edgar Erice, they argued that the 60-day martial law violates Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution.
The section authorizes martial law declaration “in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it.”
“There is no revolution or invasion where the public safety requires the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Marawi City or elsewhere in Mindanao,” the petition reads.
The lawmakers claimed that what is happening in Marawi City is an armed resistance by the Maute militants to prevent their leader, Isnilon Hapilon, from being arrested and not an attempt to overrun and remove Marawi City’s allegiance from the Republic.
Photo Credit: Sunstar
