SC upholds Duterte’s martial law order in Mindanao

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed with finality the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law proclamation in Mindanao.

During Tuesday’s en banc (full court) session, 10 justices voted to dismiss the consolidated motions for reconsideration filed by three petitioners led by members of the minority bloc from Congress, thus, favoring Mr. Duterte’s martial law directive that covered the whole region of Mindanao.

The justices who voted to dismiss the appeals include Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr., and Alexander Gesmundo.

On the other hand, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa believed that there is sufficient basis for martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus only in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, thought that martial law should only cover Marawi City.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen is the lone vote in favor of granting the motion for reconsideration, which sought to overturn the July 2017 ruling of the high court initially affirming the martial law declaration in the region.   /kga