After consulting its members, the opposition Liberal Party (LP) issued a resolution opposing the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao for “lack of legal and actual basis.”
The resolution dated December 13, 2017, and signed by Senator Francis Pangilinan as party president and LP’s secretary-general, Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, was released to the media shortly after Congress granted the extension.
In a joint session, the House of Representatives voted 240-27 with no abstention, while the Senate voted 14-4, favoring Duterte’s request.
The resolution said that after receiving Duterte’s letter-request last December 11, Pangilinan instructed its party members to hold a consultation to ascertain their sentiment on the issue.
Following the party leader’s order, informal causes in both houses of Congress were held.
“After deliberation and consultation amongst our ranks in Congress, we deem it necessary to come up with a unified position on the matter, in the higher interest of the law and the supremacy of the Constitution,” the resolution reads.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
The LP gave at least three reasons why it opposed the martial law extension.
First, the party cited the absence of “actual, continuing or persisting rebellion” in Marawi City when the siege of the city was the sole basis given by the President when he declared martial law last May 23.
The LP also insisted that “only actual rebellion or invasion” could justify the declaration of martial law. An imminent threat of rebellion, it said, was not a ground to extend martial law.
The rehabilitation and promotion of stable development in the region, the party said, was not also a valid justification, adding this could be accomplished even without martial law.
Thirdly, “positive effects, real or assumed” are not valid exemptions provided for in the Constitution” .
“To argue that martial law has a positive psychological impact on our troops, hence martial law must be retained, is to wrongly justify the end by its means,” the party said.
Pangilinan and other LP officials and members were among those who voted against the extension during the joint session. /cbb
READ; Senate, House allow 1-year martial law extension in Mindanao
