Senator Franklin Drilon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
President Rodrigo Duterte should get the Congress’ nod if he plans to extend the martial law in Mindanao, which will end on December 31, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Sunday.
“Iprisinta nila ang kanilang hinihingi. Sa Saligang Batas ay dapat ay hilingin nila formally sa Kongreso at ang Kongreso ang may kapangyarihan na i-extend iyan,” Drilon said in an interview over radio dzBB.
(They should present what they are asking for. The Constitution states that they should formally ask the Congress, and Congress has the power to extend it.)
“Let us decide on the basis of the evidence presented dahilan ang sabi nila, tapos na ang problema doon tapos ngayon ay i-extend na naman (because they said the problem there is already over, and then now they want to extend it). Hihingin natin kung ano ang kanilang basehan bakit papahabain na naman itong martial law (We will ask what their basis is in extending martial law),” he added.
If the government would extend the martial rule, Drilon said an appropriate assessment on the situation in Marawi City should be conducted to justify it.
“Hindi naman siguro gagawin ng pangulo na i-extend sa sarili lang niya, on his own account. Alam ng pangulo ang ating Saligang Batas, na ang mag-authorize sa extension ay ang Kongreso,” the senator said.
(The President wouldn’t extend it by his own, on his own accord. He knows the Constitution, that the Congress will authorize the extension.)
In a special joint session of Congress in July, both chambers voted to grant the President’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until December 31, after the attacks of the Islamic State-linked Maute terrorist group erupted on May 23.
Last Saturday, Malacañang said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) statement that they might seek an extension of martial law in the southern island to “allow government forces to eradicate the remaining threats to the region” is “deemed accepted.”
While the President has yet to decide on the matter, some lawmakers have already opposed the possible martial law extension amid the liberation of Marawi City from the Maute group. /je
READ: Solons buck plan to extend martial law in Mindanao