SC to hear consolidated petitions vs ML next week

MANILA, Philippines — All four petitions against the extension of martial law in Mindanao have been consolidated and will be part of the oral arguments set by the Supreme Court (SC) next week. 

In its Twitter account, the SC announced that it has consolidated all four petitions filed against the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

The oral arguments are scheduled on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. and on Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. 

Lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice filed the first petition, with the National Union of People’s Lawyers and lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc following suit.

Former Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Ann Rosales filed the third petition on Friday, and former poll chief Christian Monsod later in the afternoon.

They named Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as among the principal respondents along with Armed Forces chief Gen. Rey Guerrero, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

They asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.

In their 40-page petition, they asked the SC to compel the respondents to present proof of the factual basis for the one-year extension of the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the region.

After inquiring into the factual basis of such extension of the declaration and suspension, the petitioners urged the high tribunal to declare such extension as unconstitutional for lack of sufficient factual basis.