Lagman: House should not be a copycat of the President

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. (File photo by RYAN LEAGOGO / INQUIRER.net)

The House of Representatives should not serve as a copycat of the President, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman told the Supreme Court Tuesday.

During the oral arguments on petitions to nullify the one-year martial law extension in Mindanao, Lagman said the House simply adopted the letter of President Rodrigo Duterte in citing the need for another 12 months of martial law in the region.

“There is nothing wrong about a super majority [in Congress] but what is wrong if this supermajority becomes a copycat of the President,” Lagman said as he pointed out that a separate review should be conducted by the lower house on whether the extension would still be necessary.

He also lamented that despite his request he was not given a copy of the HouseResolution allowing the martial law extension.

“Despite request, Congress has not provided [us with] a copy of the resolution,” Lagman said.

Solicitor General Jose Calida said Lagman’s petition should be trashed because the House resolution was not included in his petition.

Lagman’s group, members of Congress’ minority bloc, filed the first petition against the martial law extension.

The lawmaker said they were only able to forward to the high court a copy of the House resolution only this month because they got a certified copy of the martial law extension resolution from the Senate. /atm