By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Fifteen senators of 23 have signed a resolution showing their support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto signed Resolution 388, which finds “satisfactory, constitutional and in accordance with the law” Proclamation 216 that lays down the “factual and legal basis” for the declaration.
President Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law following clashes between government troops and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi last Tuesday.
The military said the clashes erupted after authorities launched operations against Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, whom they believed to be in Marawi.
Senators Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri also signed Proclamation 216.
Of those allied with the majority bloc only Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero did not affix their signatures.
On Monday, members of the minority bloc–Senators Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, Francis Pangilinan and Leila de Lima—who did not sign the resolution either, filed a separate resolution urging the convening of a joint session of Congress for a deliberation on Duterte’s martial law declaration.
De Lima, who faces a string of drug cases, is detained in Camp Crame.
“Satisfactory, constitutional, in accordance with the law”
In ruling the President’s move was “satisfactory, constitutional and in accordance with the law,” the 15 senators, through Resolution 388, took note of several acts committed by the Maute group, which they said constituted “an open attempt to remove from the allegiance to the Philippine government the part of Mindanao and deprive the chief executive of its powers and prerogatives to enforce laws of the land and to maintain public order and safety in Mindanao.”
These acts include the Maute’s attack of a military outpost in Butig, Lanao del Sur in February 2016, which resulted in the killing of several soldiers, and the prompted “massive jailbreak” in Marawi City that led to the escape of members of the terrorist group and other detainees in August 2016.
Also included are the Maute group’s siege of a hospital in Marawi on May 23, 2017, their establishment of checkpoints within the city, and the burning down of government and private facilities that resulted in casualties.
According to the 15 senators, these “violent” acts constitute an act of rebellion based on Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code.
“Now therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by way of the sense of the Senate, that the Senate finds the issuance of Proclamation No. 216 to be satisfactory, constitutional and in accordance with the law,” they said.
“The Senate hereby supports fully Proclamation No. 216, and finds no compelling reason to revoke the same,” they added.
