(Eagle News) — The seven congressmen who challenged the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao before the Supreme Court will no longer question before the High Court the extension of military rule there.
In a statement, the so-called Magnificent 7—Reps. Edcel C. Lagman of Albay, Teddy Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Edgar R. Erice of Caloocan City, Emmanuel A. Billiones of Capiz, and Raul Daza of Northern Samar; and Party-list Reps. Tom S. Villarin of Akbayan, Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo–said this was because the present composition of the High Court “may not be disposed to favorably act on the petition..”
This was after they said the High Court “refused to exercise jurisdiction against the legislature in two mandamus cases.”
One is when the “Supreme Court denied the petition to compel the House leadership to recognize and install (Baguilat) as the legitimate minority leader based on tradition and the Rules of the House as he was the clear runner-up to Speaker Alvarez during the election for Speaker.”
The other, they said, was when the High Court also dismissed the petitions for mandamus filed by former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada, among others, “to compel the Congress to meet in joint session to consider the revocation of the declaration of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Proclamation No. 216..”
Instead, they said the High Court “upheld the refusal of the Senate and the House leaderships to call for a joint session in defiance of the mandate of the Constitution.”
The Supreme Court held a press conference on Tuesday to announce the dismissal of these petitions.
“Futile”
“With the current temperament of the the Supreme Court, it may be an exercise in futility to press for the declaration of nullity of the congressional extension,” the congressmen said.
They said instead, the “authentic minority” will “wait for the occurrence of identical issues in subsequent instances which may be adjudicated on the merits by the High Court.”
“However, the Magnificent 7 will file the necessary actions when the implementation of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus becomes errant and abusive like when human rights and civil liberties are violated, and after the cessation of armed hostilities in Marawi City, martial law and the suspension of the writ are not immediately lifted,” they said.
Last Saturday, Congress overwhelmingly voted to extend martial law in Mindanao for 150 days.
This was after the 60-day martial law declared by Duterte across Mindanao lapsed on the same day.
The President declared martial law there to quell the rebellion being waged by Islamic State-inspired terrorists.