Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8) — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez gives a warning in case the Supreme Court compels Congress to convene a joint session to discuss the proclamation of martial law in Mindanao.
Two petitions were filed with the court asking to take such action.
Alvarez said he would ignore a favorable decision from the court.
“Of course not! Kalokohan iyan… Mag-issue ng directive ang Supreme Court…punitin ko iyan.”
[Translation: Of course not! That’s folloshness… If the Supreme Court issues a directive, I will tear it up.]
Alvarez pointed out the Supreme Court and Congress are co-equal branches of government, so the court has no right to tell Congress what it should do.
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The Speaker said both the House of Representatives and Senate endorsed resolutions supporting the presidential proclamation so there’s no logic in holding a joint session.
On the other hand, Senator Bam Aquino believes the decision of the Supreme Court is persuasive and should be respected.
Aquino is among nine senators who voted in favor of convening a joint session to discuss the martial law proclamation in Mindanao.
He said, “Kung magdecide po sila na yung tamang patakaran ay mag convene ang joint session, then I hope makikinig naman po ang isang co-equal branch.
[Tranlation: If they decide that the correct policy would be to convene a joint session, then I hope the co-equal branch would listen.]
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, however, believes the Supreme Court will not compel Congress to convene jointly.
He said, “Meron itong tinatawag na kurtesiya sa co-equal branch of government.”
[Trabnslation: This has what is called courtesy to a co-qual brnach of government.]
Lacson believes the court will only act on another petition questioning the basis of declaring Martial Law in Mindanao.
