Congress won’t revoke martial law

MANILA, Philippines -  Leaders of the House of Representatives indicated yesterday that they would not agree to a revocation by Congress of President Duterte’s martial law proclamation.

In a television interview, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said there is no need for the House and the Senate to convene in joint session to review and revoke the President’s declaration.

“It is clear under the Constitution that he has the power to place the country or any part thereof under martial law. Let us trust his judgment,” he said.

To those questioning the President’s decision, Alvarez said, “They should win the presidency first.”

He said he has already received Duterte’s report on his proclamation. “I would just furnish each member of the House a copy,” he added.

There are calls from some members of the Senate and the House to review Duterte’s basis for placing the entire island of Mindanao under martial law and to eventually call for a vote to revoke it.

In fact, the President’s leftist allies in the House want martial rule lifted immediately.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said under the Constitution, the President has the power to impose martial law for 60 days. He said the chamber would convene as a committee of the whole at 9 a.m. on May 29 to discuss – in an executive session at the session hall – the President’s martial law declaration. 

The House received yesterday Duterte’s Executive Order 216 placing Mindanao under martial law for 60 days.

The Chief Executive is required to submit a report to Congress 48 hours after the declaration. The 48-hour deadline would have lapsed at 10 p.m. yesterday.

Cabinet secretaries invited include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, acting Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy and Justice Secretary Vitialiano Aguirre II.

Also invited were Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial,  Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.

Fariñas also said the Senate and the House, voting jointly and by a majority vote, “may revoke a martial law proclamation and such revocation the President cannot set aside.”

“The Congress has to act only if it shall revoke such proclamation. If it is in favor of the proclamation, it does not have to act, but nothing prevents either or both houses of Congress from expressing support,” he said.

He added that Mindanao congressmen have decided to file a resolution of support for Duterte’s martial law declaration.

Fariñas pointed out that in case there is an initiative to revoke, the Constitution requires a joint Senate-House session and joint voting.

“A joint session requires a concurrent resolution of both houses to call Congress to such joint session. If either does not want to, how can you have a joint session?” 

He said if there was no joint session where revocation of martial law could be discussed and a vote could be taken, the President’s declaration would be good for 60 days unless scrapped sooner by the Chief Executive himself.