(Eagle News) — The Senate adopted on Tuesday night an amended resolution that emphasized there would be no revocation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao at the moment.
Seventeen senators–all from the majority bloc— adopted Senate Resolution no. 388, which incorporated amendments introduced by Senator Francis Escudero.
Of the Senate majority bloc, only Escudero and Senator Grace Poe did not sign the earlier version of the resolution.
Those who did not vote for the amended resolution were members of the minority bloc–Senators Francis Pangilinan, also the Liberal Party president; Franklin Drilon, the Senate minority leader; Antonio Trillanes IV; Bam Aquino; and Risa Hontiveros.
Senator Leila de Lima–who is facing a string of drug cases— is detained in Camp Crame and was unable to vote.
While emphasizing that they supported the government troops fighting in Marawi, the minority argued that a joint session of Congress was necessary to determine whether there was indeed basis for the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Amendments
Escudero’s amendments to the measure included a change in the title–from a resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate supporting Proclamation no. 216 dated May 23, 2017 entitled ‘Declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao’ and finding no cause to revoke the same,” to a resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate not to revoke, at this time, Proclamation 216, series of 2017, entitled, ‘Declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao.'”
The amended resolution also emphasized that Duterte, through Proclamation 216, declared martial law in Mindanao because “actual rebellion exists and public safety requires it,” but also reiterated that the declaration did not suspend the operation of the Constitution.
The amended resolution also incorporated the fact that the senators were given a briefing by defense officials about the situation on the ground on Monday night.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, to express the sense of the Senate that there is no compelling reason to revoke Proclamation no. 216 series of 2017, at this time,” the amended resolution said.
President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao last Tuesday, following clashes between government troops and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi.
The military said the clashes began when authorities launched offensives against Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader, who was believed to be in the area.
