SC to include Etta’s plea vs martial extension at oral arguments

ANOTHER PETITION Former Commission on Human Rights Chair Loretta Rosales and several lawyers file a petition against President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

The third petition against martial law extension will be included in the oral arguments scheduled for January 16 to 17, 2018, the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office said Friday.

Consolidated with the petitions filed by the minority bloc from Congress and the human rights advocate was the petition filed by former Human Rights Chairperson Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales.

Echoing the arguments of the two other petitioners, Rosales said there was no longer factual basis to extend martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao since President Rodrigo Duterte already declared last October that Marawi City — the center of skirmishes between government troops and Islamic State-inspired Maute group — has been liberated.

The government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, is expected to submit its comment not later than 5 p.m. of January 13.

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