Drilon: Congress to okay martial law extension in Mindanao

Sen. Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Despite their opposition, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon believes Congress will grant President Rodrigo Duterte’s request, anyway, to extend martial law in the entire Mindanao for another year.

The martial law was first declared last May after the attack in Marawi City by the Maute group. It was extended by Congress in July until December 31 this year.

“I think the authorization of Congress to extend martial law in accordance with the request of the President is a foregone conclusion,” Drilon told reporters before the senators’ closed-door meeting at the Senate with Palace and security officials on the martial law extension.

“Congress is a political body. The President has super majority in both houses and therefore it is expected that notwithstanding our reservations and opposition, the Congress will authorize the extension of martial law for one year in the entire Mindanao,” he said

Drilon said the minority group would nevertheless put on record their objection to the martial law extension, citing the absence of an actual armed uprising, which he said was a requirement of the Constitution.

“We’ll go through the motions but ultimately the Supreme Court will have to decide whether or not there is in fact a factual basis for the extension of martial law in the entire Mindanao,” he said.

“We will put on record our objection but as I’ve said the Congress is a political body. I think Congress will heed the President’s request and ultimately, the Supreme Court will have to decide the validity of the extension,” Drilon added.

Drilon said the minority group had not decided whether or not to raise the issue before the Supreme Court but he was certain certain groups would bring it to the tribunal. /cbb