Duterte allies in House praise SC ruling to uphold Mindanao martial law

Political allies of President Rodrigo Duterte in the House of Representatives on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court decision upholding the chief executive’s proclamation of martial law in Mindanao.

In separate statements, lawmakers from the majority and minority bloc supportive of the administration said the latest decision finally put to rest objections to the factual basis of the proclamation and fears that it would be abused.

READ: Opposition solons lament SC vote to uphold martial law in Mindanao

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, said the Supreme Court decision justified the President’s decision to use his powers under the Constitution to curb the threat of terrorism in Mindanao.

“The decision of the Supreme Court puts to rest any and all questions on the validity of President Duterte’s declaration of martial law,” Nograles said. “In other words, the President was clearly and correctly justified in his decision to use the extraordinary powers given to him by the Constitution to protect the integrity of our Republic and guarantee the safety of our people.”

Nograles welcomed that the branches of government – the executive, the legislative and the judiciary – were united in allowing the President to combat the terrorist siege of Marawi by the Maute Group and its allies.

“The Supreme Court has spoken,” he said. “Those who are spreading lies and disinformation about martial law and those who seek to divide us should now put it to rest, and start doing something constructive to build our nation.”

Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez, the minority leader, said the Supreme Court decision vindicated the President’s proclamation.

“The declaration of martial law is vindicated by the present event that is happening now,” Suarez said in an interview with reporters.

Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque said he was elated by the fact that the Supreme Court respected the imposition of martial rule, presuming regularity in the President’s intentions because of his access to information on the ground.

“I am happy that the Court respected and acknowledged the information that is readily available to the executive, which the high tribunal does not have access to,” Roque said in a statement. “And in the absence of its ability to discern for itself the factual basis for martial law, it should to accord the executive the presumption of regularity of discharge of function, which in this case it did.”

“Although it has ceased to be a political question and may be reviewed by the Court, in the absence of grave abuse of discretion – meaning unless the declaration was based on clearly spurious grounds – the court was right deferring to the judgement of the President,” he added.

ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said he had always believed in the President’s resolve to stamp out terrorism through martial rule.

“I have always believed that President Duterte’s declaration is within the bounds of our Constitution,” Bertiz said in a statement. “I also know that the President’s decision to declare martial law was arrived at only after a thorough deliberation and study by the President and his advisers.”

During Tuesday’s en banc session, the high court, voting 11-3-1, dismissed the petitions filed by House of Representatives’ independent minority bloc, some residents of Mindanao, and some women from Marawi.

Three members of the court – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa – would want martial law confined in Marawi.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen was the lone dissenter. /atm

READ: SC upholds validity of martial law in Mindanao