MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the government submit a detailed on the implementation of martial law in Mindanao from the Department of National Defense.
In an en banc notice dated January 22 but only released Wednesday, the high court said the government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, must include all confidential matters involving national security.
The high court said the detailed report must be submitted on or before Jan. 25, 2019.
“Acting on the compliance dated January 21, 2019, submitted by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to the Court and in view of the OSG’s undertaking, the Court hereby directs the OSG to submit…the Department of National Defense’s Monthly/Periodic Reports addressed to the Congress on the implementation of Martial Law from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 which involve highly sensitive and confidential matters affecting the security of the State,” read the high court’s resolution.
It added that the “members of the Court will make a preliminary assessment whether or not the said reports may only be appropriately discussed and deliberated upon in an executive session.”
The SC is set to hear in oral arguments on January 29 the consolidated petitions filed by opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the militant party-list lawmakers led by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, and the group led by former Comelec chair Christian Monsod questioning the legality of the third extension of martial law in Mindanao.
READ: SC consolidates four petitions vs martial law extension
A similar petition was also filed on Wednesday by three Lumad teachers and a student from Mindanao.
READ: Lumad teachers, student file 4th petition to declare martial law unconstitutional
The previous petitions said the government failed to justify the reason for the re-extension, adding that this failure mocks the 1987 Constitution, which, among others, stated that martial law can only be proclaimed if an actual rebellion or invasion exists.
But Solicitor General Jose Calida argued the factual bases to extend the duration of the martial law in Mindanao. He said rebellion still persists in Mindanao and, as such, public safety requires the extension. /ee
