QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Senator Francis Escudero said that President Rodrigo Duterte cannot set aside the decision of Congress and the Supreme Court on the implementation of martial law.
Escudero reiterated that the constitutional provisions about martial law were put in place in order to safeguard against possible abuses.
“Sa ilalim kasi ng Saligang Batas, sa totoo lang wala naman na ngipin ‘yung martial law. Mas psychological ‘yun more than anything else,” Escudero said.
“Kahit ‘yung writ of habeas corpus, isususpindi mo. Sa ngayon, sa totoo lang, bale wala na eh. Kasi sa ilalim ng bagong Saligang Batas kailangan mo siyang i-charge in three days. ‘Yan ang parehong rule sa Revised Penal Code. So may martial law man o wala, suspendido man o wala, kailangan mo pa rin i-charge eh,” he added.
The statement was made after President Duterte told soldiers that he would listen to what advice the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would give on when to lift martial law in Mindanao.
He said the government forces on the ground would be the proper authority to make such an assessment.
https://youtu.be/1sP-oQi-4ec
