House convenes to tackle Duterte’s martial law report

The House of Representatives constituted itself into a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday to tackle President Rodrigo Duterte’s report on the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.

Majority leader Rudy Fariñas chaired the committee hearing held at the plenary hall that started at exactly 9 a.m.

A quorum was declared after 135 of the 292 members responded to roll call.

Among the members of the Cabinet present were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, court administrator Midas Marquez, among others.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Eduardo Año sent representatives to the committee because they are in Marawi City for the operations.

In delivering the opening remarks, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez urged his colleagues to view Duterte’s martial law declaration away from the country’s past experiences during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, who cemented his one-man rule through martial law.

“While we understand the reservations of some with martial law, let us view the situation not exclusively from the perspective of the past. Our present Constitution provides sufficient safeguards to prevent abuses by agents of the State,” Alvarez said.

“Moreover, we give the public our assurance that we are keeping a watchful eye upon the unfolding of events and will step in as a counter-balance should and when the need arises,” he added.

The chamber constituted itself into a Committee of the Whole House after Duterte’s martial law report was referred to the committee on rules during Monday’s session.

LOOK: Duterte’s martial law report to Congress

According to Section 137, Rule XVIII of the Rules of the House, the lower house may constitute itself into a Committee of the Whole House upon the motion of the Majority Leader to act upon a bill or resolution.
Fariñas was appointed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as chairperson to preside over the proceedings.

According to the rules, the House may constitute itself into a Committee of the Whole, which functions as one committee acting upon a bill or resolution, and conducts its proceedings like a regular committee with its membership composed of all the Members of the House.

Fariñas said the Committee of the Whole could decide whether or not to hold an executive session depending on the issues to be discussed.

The lower house convened itself as a whole committee since Congress appeared not keen on holding a joint session to hold a vote on the President’s martial law declaration.

Alvarez and Fariñas earlier said there was no need for Congress to convene if it had no intention of revoking the martial law declaration in Mindanao.

Duterte said he would not listen to Congress or the Supreme Court when deciding to end martial law even though these were the checks and balances on the martial law declaration in the 1987 Constitution.

READ: Duterte vows to ignore Supreme Court on martial law

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is required to submit to Congress within 48 hours a report on the martial law declaration. Congress voting jointly may then vote to revoke the martial law declaration in a majority vote.

Both Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Fariñas, Duterte’s staunchest allies, said Congress need not convene jointly sans a concurrent resolution calling for a joint session.

Alvarez said Congress need not vote to revoke the martial law because it is the President’s mandate to declare martial law in case of invasion or rebellion.

READ: No need for Congress to convene on martial law report – Fariñas | Alvarez says no need for Congress to convene on martial law report

Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City, where buildings were burnt, people held hostage, and flags of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) hoisted in the siege carried out by the ISIS-inspired terror group.

READ: Maute Group, Abus fire on military camp in Marawi | Troops battle Islamist militants in Marawi

Duterte warned that his orders would be shoot to kill, and that warrantless arrests could be carried out in Mindanao following his declaration. He also warned that martial law there would be no different and as harsh as that declared by the dictator Marcos.

The President even said he was considering imposing martial law nationwide if terror groups inspired by ISIS gain a foothold in Luzon and Visayas.

READ: Martial law will be harsh, says Duterte | Duterte considering nationwide martial law

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is required to submit to Congress within 48 hours a report on the martial law declaration. Congress voting jointly may then vote to revoke the martial law declaration in a majority vote. CBB