The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The Supreme Court decision to uphold President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao drew mixed reactions on Tuesday from opposition members of the Senate.
“The Supreme Court has resolved the question on the sufficiency of the factual basis of declaring martial law in Mindanao,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a statement. “But what is more important today and in the next 17 days is how to end the fighting in Marawi which has already claimed the lives of many of our soldiers, displaced thousands of residents, and disrupted all forms of human and economic activity in the area.”
Drilon then urged the government to immediately prepare a long-term rehabilitation plan that would bring normalcy back to war-torn Marawi City.
He also called on the Senate leadership to ask the executive branch for an update on the situation in Marawi City.
Though in disaagreement with the SC decision, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said it must be respected since the SC had sole authority over legal issues.
But Pangilinan, president of Liberal Party, said Malacañang should also consider the “wisdom” of the three justices who would want martial law to be confined to Marawi.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire region of Mindanao last May 23 under martial law, shortly after Islamic State-inspired terrorists laid siege Marawi.
“We must ensure that the human rights of everyone is protected against abuses and justice will always prevail,” Pangilinan said. “As soon as the fighting ends, the government must buckle down to work and start rehabilitation efforts in the area immediately.”
READ: Senators backing Mindanao martial law not surprised with SC ruling
Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned that the SC decision would set a “dangerous precedent for undemocratic governance.”
“It’s a sad day for Philippine democracy,” she said. “It was a missed opportunity for the Supreme Court to stand up against creeping authoritarianism. With the ruling, martial law becomes the ‘default response’ of the state to address all acts of violence and lawlessness. Martial law becomes a ‘silver bullet’ for a false peace.”
Hontiveros said Duterte should not use the ruling as a “free pass” to expand martial in other parts of the country or to take “constitutional shortcuts.”
“I am encouraged by the growing number of citizens saying no to authoritarianism,” she said, as she reiterated her support to the soldiers fighting the Maute terrorists.
With or without martial law Hontiveros insisted that government troops would be able to defeat terrorists in Marawi.
Like Pangilinan, Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino said he respected the SC’s decision.
But he added: “Still, we must remain vigilant and safeguard the rights of our countrymen until the firefight ends and martial law is lifted.”
Beyond defeating terrorists, Aquino said the government should address poverty to eradicate terrorism and insurgency in the country.
“Let’s focus on giving displaced Filipino families the support they need and be ready to pour all efforts to rebuilding Marawi, reestablishing our schools, and creating jobs and livelihood for the community,” he said. –Airei Kim Guanga /atm