Lagman, Calida tussle in SC over martial law show-and-tell

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. INQUIRER.NET FILE / RYAN LEAGOGO

Was Albay Representative Edcel Lagman present when the military presented before Congress that facts explaining the necessity to extend martial law in Mindanao for one year?

Lagman said he was present the whole time but there was no powerpoint presentation in Congress. But Solicitor General Jose Calida said Lagman was not aware because based on information he  received, the lawmaker was absent when the presentation was made in Congress.

The lawmaker opposed the military’s powerpoint presentation before the Supreme Court.

“This should have been done during the joint session of Congress,” Lagman said but Calida told the high court that the presentation is for the benefit of the petitioners especially Lagman.

Lagman said Congress hastily approved the one-year request to extend martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said congressional deliberation was only about three hours which was shorter than the first extension request of up to December 2017.

Lagman added that the Executive branch provided Congress with documents and video presentation during their first request of extension but nothing was provided when they requested for the 12 month extension.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno allowed the military presentation.

The high court required Calida to submit a manifestation indicating when the military made the presentation in Congress. /cbb