Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8) — Bishops on Wednesday filed before the Supreme Court (SC) a petition calling for Congress to conduct a joint session and deliberate on the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Led by Bishop Broderick Pabillo, he said the Constitution requires Congress to convene and discuss the factual bases of the martial law declaration.
“This joint session is important for us so that we may also know, the public may know, for greater transparency kung mayroon bang factual basis itong pagdeclare ng martial law. Yan ang purpose at sana masundan yung sinasabi ng batas,” Pabillo said.
[Translation: This joint session is important for us so that we may also know, the public may know, for greater transparency if there is factual basis to declare martial law. That is the purpose and we hope the law will be followed.]
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the whole island of Mindanao under martial law for more than two weeks now, following the clash between government troops and terror group Maute on May 23.
READ: Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao
Also among the petitioners are Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iniguez, Bishop Antonio Tobias, former Senator Wigberto Tanada, and Akbayan-Youth Secretary-General Shamah Bulangis.
They believe holding a joint session is imperative amid accusations of erroneous information in the President’s report submitted to Congress.
Proclamation 216 declared a state of martial law in Mindanao, as well as suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
Detained Senator Leila de Lima and former Human Rights Commissioner Etta Rosales filed a similar petition on Tuesday.
READ: De Lima, lawyers file SC petition for Congress to convene on martial law
On Monday, House minority lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman also filed a petition before the SC. Their petition, though, is challenging the constitutionality of martial law in Mindanao.
READ: House minority files petition vs. martial law in Supreme Court
The SC will hold oral arguments on the petition challenging the declaration of martial law next week.
