The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The Supreme Court decision to uphold President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 declaration of martial law in Mindanao drew mixed reactions聽on Tuesday聽from聽opposition members of the Senate.
鈥淭he Supreme Court has resolved the question on the sufficiency of the factual basis of declaring martial law in Mindanao,鈥� Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a statement. 鈥淏ut what is more important today and in the next 17 days is how to end the fighting in Marawi which has already claimed the lives of many of our soldiers, displaced thousands of residents, and disrupted all forms of human and economic activity in the area.鈥�
Drilon then聽urged the government to immediately prepare a long-term rehabilitation plan that would bring normalcy back to war-torn Marawi City.
He also called on the Senate leadership to ask the executive branch for an update on the situation in Marawi City.
Though in disaagreement with the SC decision, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said it must be respected since聽the SC had sole authority聽over legal issues.
But聽Pangilinan, president of Liberal Party, said Malaca帽ang should聽also consider聽the 鈥渨isdom鈥� of the three justices who would want martial law to be confined聽to Marawi.
President Rodrigo Duterte聽placed the entire region of Mindanao last聽May 23聽under martial law, shortly after Islamic State-inspired terrorists laid siege Marawi.
鈥淲e must ensure that the human rights of everyone is protected against abuses and justice will always prevail,鈥� Pangilinan said. 鈥淎s soon as the fighting ends, the government must buckle down to work and start rehabilitation efforts in the area immediately.鈥�
搁贰础顿:听Senators backing Mindanao martial law not surprised with SC ruling
Sen. Risa Hontiveros聽warned that the SC decision聽would set a 鈥渄angerous precedent for undemocratic governance.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sad day for Philippine democracy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a missed opportunity for the Supreme Court to stand up against creeping authoritarianism. With the ruling, martial law becomes the 鈥榙efault response鈥� of the state to address all acts of violence and lawlessness.聽Martial law becomes a 鈥榮ilver bullet鈥� for a false peace.鈥�
Hontiveros said Duterte聽should聽not use the聽ruling聽as a 鈥渇ree pass鈥� to expand martial聽in other parts聽of the country or to take 鈥渃onstitutional shortcuts.鈥�
鈥淚 am encouraged by the growing number of citizens saying no to authoritarianism,鈥澛爏he said, as she reiterated聽her support to the soldiers fighting the Maute terrorists.
With or without martial law聽 Hontiveros insisted that government troops聽would be able to defeat terrorists in Marawi.
Like聽Pangilinan, Sen. Paolo Benigno 鈥淏am鈥� Aquino聽said he聽respected聽the SC鈥檚 decision.
But he added: 鈥淪till, we must remain vigilant and safeguard the rights of our countrymen until the firefight ends and martial law is lifted.鈥�
Beyond defeating terrorists, Aquino said聽the government should address poverty to聽eradicate terrorism and insurgency in the country.
鈥淟et鈥檚 focus on giving displaced Filipino families the support they need and be ready to pour all efforts to rebuilding Marawi, reestablishing our schools, and creating jobs and livelihood for the community,鈥澛爃e said. 鈥揂irei Kim Guanga聽/atm