SC junks petitions to compel Congress to convene for martial law debates

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed the petitions urging the high court to compel Congress to convene in a joint session to review President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law proclamation in Mindanao

Thirteen high court justices ruled that Article VII Section 18 does not require Congress to jointly convene in reviewing the martial law proclamation.

“The court, voting unanimously dismissed the petitions on the ground that Congress did not gravely abuse its discretion in not convening jointly upon the President’s issuance of Proclamation 216 as Article VII Section 18 imposes no such duty on Congress to convene,” the high court said in the ruling written by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro.

The high court said the duty to convene jointly and vote is limited to instances where Congress intends to revoke or extend any proclamation of martial law or suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Two other justices–Associate Justices Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa–voted to dismiss the petition on the ground of mootness since Congress already convened in a joint session on Saturday (July 22) and allowed an extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017.

The petitions were filed separately by former Senator Rene Saguisag, detained Senator Leila de Lima, former Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Ann Rosales, former peace negotiator Alex Padilla and former Senator Wigberto Tañada.

BACKSTORY: SC told to decide petition requiring Congress to convene on ML issue

Both petitions said a joint session of Congress to review a declaration of martial law by the President is mandatory under the 1987 Constitution. IDL/rga