Lagman: SC order a good sign for petition vs Mindanao martial law extension

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the latest order of Supreme Court augurs well for the minority lawmakers’ petition assailing the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

“This augurs well for the petition which has survived the preliminary gauntlet which petitions have to pass through in the High Court,” Lagman said in a statement issued on Friday.

The SC on Friday ordered executive and legislative officials to answer the petition filed by Lagman and other members of the so-called Magnificent 7 bloc questioning the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

The respondents are Solicitor General Jose Calida, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

This was after the high tribunal found the petition to be “sufficient in form and substance.”

The petitioners argued that the military rule extension should be declared “null and void” since there was “no actual rebellion” in Mindanao” to justify it.

The other petitioners are Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tomasito Villarin.

Lagman also told Calida to limit himself to the legal issues raised in the petition after the latter said that the minority didn’t know better than President Rodrigo Duterte and the rest of the Congress who approved the extension of military rule.

“He should not meander into proclaiming that the President and the supermajority of the Congress are above the Constitution as if they could do no wrong,” Lagman said. /atm