Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman and Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin. 黑料社 photo / Noy Morcoso
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman and Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin denounced on Tuesday the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao for the third time, saying it lacks constitutional basis.
鈥淎 third extension of martial law in Mindanao mocks the Constitution for wanton absence of constitutional bases which are the presence of actual rebellion and public safety requires the extension,鈥� Lagman said in a statement read during a press conference.
鈥淩ebellion does not persist in Mindanao and consequently public safety is not imperiled,鈥� he added.
Villarin, meanwhile, warned Congress from kowtowing to the whims of Malaca帽ang, specifically chiding House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. for supporting the proposed martial rule extension in the southern region.
鈥淚t is deeply troubling that no less than the House majority leader himself has affirmed to continue the pattern of this chamber鈥檚 subservience to the militaristic whims of Malaca帽ang, instead of asserting the independence of the Lower House,鈥� he said.
On Monday, Andaya said if President Rodrigo Duterte asked for another extension of martial law in Mindanao, 鈥渢hen chances are it shall be given.鈥�
READ: AFP to recommend extension of martial law in Mindanao
The Chief Executive has yet to make a stand on the issue but Gen. Carlito Galvez, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as well as Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said they would want another one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2018.
READ: No decision yet on Mindanao martial law, says Duterte
The President is vested with the initiative for the extension of martial law and Duterte has not communicated to Congress his desire to prolong the martial law regime in Mindanao.
Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City. The Congress, upon his recommendation, later extended it until the end of 2018 despite the government鈥檚 declaration of an end to fierce urban fighting in the war-torn area.
Since Congress is set to adjourn for the Christmas break on December 14, Lagman warned against fast-tracking the extension.
Lagman further argued that Galvez and Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana were 鈥渇oot-dragging鈥� in recommending another martial law extension because it appears that this move was 鈥渘ot of critical immediacy鈥� and another extension would mean 鈥渁n admission that the military has failed to achieve the purported objectives of the previous martial law extensions.鈥�
The justification of Galvez that there is a public clamor for the extension is also 鈥渇lawed鈥� as it is not a ground for martial law or its extension, according to Lagman.
鈥淢oreover, the alibi that 鈥榯errorists are still lurking in the area鈥� is not also a basis for extension because terrorism is not rebellion and the threat of terrorism, like the imminent threat of rebellion, is not a constitutional ground for martial law or its extension because 鈥榠mminent threat of rebellion鈥� has been obliterated as a ground in the 1987 Constitution because 鈥榯hreat鈥� is contingent, self-serving and nebulous,鈥� the Albay congressman added. /jpv