Senators backing Mindanao martial law not surprised with SC ruling

Senator Panfilo Lacson (left) and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS)

The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao did not come as a surprise for some senators, especially for those who supported it.

“I had no doubts that the President validly, with factual basis, declared martial law. Nothing surprising with the Supreme Court decision. I actually expected that,” Senate President Aqulino Pimentel III said in a statement shortly after the SC released its decision on Tuesday.

READ: SC upholds validity of martial law in Mindanao

But Pimentel said the issue of extending martial law in the region was another issue.

“Extension is different from declaration, the time frame is different. Declaration may be justified but extension is not, that’s a possibility,” he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the factual basis for the martial law proclamation was “clear enough that there could not have been any other ruling as overwhelmingly decisive as the one rendered by the SC.”

“I knew we did right in supporting the martial law proclamation in Mindanao when we debated on it in caucus and in plenary. I can only hope that none of our Senate colleagues will call the magistrates lapdogs and cowards of the administration,” Lacson said in a text message.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier lambasted his colleagues for allegedly turning the Senate as the “last bastion of democracy” to merely “puppets” of the administration.

Senator Sonny Angara took to Twitter to welcome the SC’s ruling.

“A strong majority in support of the declaration of Martial Law. (I) hope it gives our soldiers a boost and helps bring crisis to an end,” Angara said.

The three are all part of the majority bloc in the Senate and were among the 17 of 23 senators who expressed support for the martial law declaration in the region. JE

READ: 17 senators endorse martial law; Palace grateful

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