(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court en banc has denied with finality the appeals by a group for the High Court to reconsider its earlier decision that upheld the constitutionality of the imposition of martial law in Mindanao last year.
In junking the motion for reconsideration and urgent motion for reconsideration filed by the group of Rep. Edcel Lagman in February last year, the SC said the “issue on the sufficiency of the legal basis” resolved in the assailed SC decision issued on Feb. 6, 2018 has been rendered “moot and academic” with the expiration of the period in question.
“In fact, the Senate and the House of Representatives already adopted (Resolution of Both Houses) No. 6, which further extended the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao for another period of one year from Jan. 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019,” the SC said.
The SC noted that the validity of this more recent resolution was upheld by the court in Lagman vs Medialdea, noting that a state of rebellion continued to persist in Mindanao and public safety required such an extension.
“In any event, after a judicious study of the motions, the court finds that the arguments raised therein are but mere reiterations of the issues already evaluated and passed upon in the assailed decision,” the SC said.
With the SC’s decision, no further pleadings or motions will be entertained on the matter. Moira Encina