(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court, by a majority vote, on Wednesday (July 4) ruled in favor of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of the martial law in Mindanao.
In a ruling, 11 of the high court justices dismissed the various petitions questioning the martial law declaration in Mindanao.
“The court dismissed the petitions by a vote of 11 of its members. Three members voted to partially grant the petitions, and one member voted to grant the petitions,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te announced in a press briefing that was televised.
“All 15 justices have submitted draft opinions, whether concurring or dissenting. All these opinions will be finalized and submitted tomorrow,” he added.
With the majority, or 11 of the 15, judges voting to uphold the martial law declaration in Mindanao, the Philippine government won over its opponents who are questioning the President’s decisiont to declare martial law to address the Marawi crisis.
The declared martial law is supposed to last for only 60 days.
It was declared on May 23 while the President was in an official visit in Moscow, shortly after the Marawi siege by the Islamist terrorists.
The justices who voted to dismiss the petitions against martial law in Mindanao were the following:
Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.
Associate Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro
Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta
Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin
Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo
Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza
Associate Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes
Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe
Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza
Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires
Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam
The three justices who said that martial law should cover only Marawi City and nearby areas were:
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
Only Associate Justice Marvic Leonen voted to grant the petitions against martial law, saying there was no factual basis at all for it.
