Our own terms as lawmakers will expire before, in June 2019, Escudero explains
(Eagle News) — Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday, Dec. 12, questioned the legality of the 17th Congress voting for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, or up to December 2019, even when some of the members’ terms were set to expire months before, or in June of that year.
“Maaari ba talaga tayong magbigay ng extension ng one year samantalang ang term natin ay mag-eexpire na sa (June 2019)? Hindi ba dapat sa next Congress na yan?” Escudero asked in the joint session of Congress on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
In rejecting the extension of martial law in Mindanao for a third time, Escudero also noted that huge public clamor, a better economy and a decrease in criminality should not be the bases for the declaration, and therefore the extension, of martial law, based on the 1987 Constitution.
He said the Constitution states there should be a continuing rebellion, an invasion.
“Kung pagbabasehan ang rebelyon ng (New People’s Army), e 50 years na yan,” he said.
Even then, he said the gains in Mindanao were achieved not because of martial law but because of the “right allocation of resources.”
He also credited the military and the police for “performing their mandate of upholding sovereignty, and protecting people while respecting human rights.”
“(Lahat ng ito) pwedeng gawin ng administrasyon kahit walang batas militar..walang pagkakaiba ..Ang pagkakaiba ay nasa isip lang ng ating kasundaluhan. Pero sa punto de bista ng batas, walang pinagkaiba (kung may martial law o wala),” Escudero said.
“This cannot be the new normal for Mindanao. Mindanao achieved economic growth, unprecedented peace and order in the area, and it can do so even without martial law. Bakit? Di po ba pwede makamit ng Mindanao, Visayas or Luzon (yan) nang walang tatak or bahid ng batas militar?” Escudero asked.
