(Eagle News) — Several congressmen took up the cudgels for President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, as the Lower House held a session that is expected to determine the fate of his martial law proclamation in Mindanao.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said Duterte was “correct” in saying he would listen to the military and the police in connection with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
According to Fariñas, it was “not the duty” of the President to listen to Congress at this time, after all; it should be Congress, he said, that should listen to him give his report.
“Tama rin si Presidente.It’s not his duty to listen to the legislative now. He listens to the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and to the police about martial law,” Fariñas said.
If Congress, however, jointly acts, he said Duterte was duty-bound to comply.
“Once Congress gives its decision whether to revoke the proclamation (or not), it will be his constitutional duty to obey the order of Congress,” Fariñas said.
In his opening speech, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also urged his colleagues to “extend to the President the aid which he needs.”
He said that while “we understand the reservations of some with (respect) to martial law, let us view the situation not exclusively from the perspective of the past….”
“The situation is far more complex. Besides military action, we have to address the historical, social, economic and political roots of the problem,” he said.
He noted that the present Constitution provides “sufficient safeguards to prevent abuses by agents of the state.”
“Moreover, we give the public our assurance that we are keeping a watchful eye upon the unfolding of events and will step in as a counter-balance should and when the need arises,” he said.
“..Let us also do our part and legislate lasting solutions to the problems we face. We owe this to the people of Marawi City. We owe this to the people of Mindanao. We owe this to the people of the Philippines…,” he added.
The House of Representatives is currently holding an executive session.