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QUEZON City, Philippines – Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin said his group would file a petition with the Supreme Court questioning the declaration of martial law in Mindanao Villarin said that the declaration has no firm, factual basis. He added that Congress was not able to follow the provisions laid down in the Constitution when it failed to convene immediately after the declaration of martial law. https://youtu.be/mzrwcYgYjKI
(Eagle News)– Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday (June 1) confirmed that eight foreign militants fighting with Maute group were already killed by government troops in Marawi City. Two each were from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia, while one was from Yemen and another from Chechnya, a federal subject of Russia. The foreigners are suspected to be members of the Islamic State (IS). Lorenzana added that the foreigners might have entered the country via sea travel coming […]
(Eagle News) –Eleven soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in a government airstrike in Marawi, prompting authorities to decide to limit the use of airstrikes to avoid government casualties. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said authorities were investigating the “accident” that took place on Wednesday, as government troops fought to claim the Maute group’s remaining stronghold. Lorenzana, who earlier said 10 soldiers had been killed, said there were “50 to 100” terrorists “holed up in reinforced buildings” […]
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday made the link between terrorism and drugs in the country, saying that terrorism activities were actually “fueled” by the former. Speaking during the Philippine Navy anniversary celebration in Davao, Duterte said drug lords have sought “protection” from terrorists to “ensure the success of their business.” “So much so even Manila was already flooded (with drugs) and we had to put an apparatus to stop it,” he said. In Marawi, he said the government has “suffered […]
QUEZON City, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs has allayed some concerns of members of the diplomatic corps amid the martial law declaration in Mindanao. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano invited the diplomats to a closed-door meeting recently for this. “There were questions, just like the questions of the Philippine media, why the whole Mindanao, How long, what is the scope, how powerful is this group and everything. And we tried to simplify. Many of […]
(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution expressing support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The approval of the Lower House convening as a Committee of the Whole was made after 249 congressmen attended an executive session, which saw defense officials explaining the situation in Marawi, and the basis for the President’s proclamation. The approval came a day after the Senate approved an amended resolution that […]
(Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana emphasized on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao was “imperative.” Lorenzana issued the statement after minority bloc senators noted the defense secretary had said in a May 29 executive session that security forces could contain the Maute group in Marawi even without the martial law proclamation. The senators made the revelation in arguing for the convening of a joint session of Congress that […]
91 firearms from Maute group recovered by gov’t forces (Eagle News) — At least 89 members of the Islamist terrorists, including the Maute group, had been killed and about 90 percent of Marawi City had been cleared of the extremists, according to government authorities in their latest report. In the MIndanao Hour briefing on Wednesday, May 31, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the 89 Maute casualities were confirmed by eyewitness accounts and body count. […]
(Eagle News) — Several congressmen took up the cudgels for President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, as the Lower House held a session that is expected to determine the fate of his martial law proclamation in Mindanao. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said Duterte was “correct” in saying he would listen to the military and the police in connection with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. According to Fariñas, it was “not the duty” of the […]
(Eagle News) — The Senate adopted on Tuesday night an amended resolution that emphasized there would be no revocation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao at the moment. Seventeen senators–all from the majority bloc— adopted Senate Resolution no. 388, which incorporated amendments introduced by Senator Francis Escudero. Of the Senate majority bloc, only Escudero and Senator Grace Poe did not sign the earlier version of the resolution. Those who did not vote […]
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 […]
Authorities on Tuesday urged the terrorists fighting government troops in Marawi to surrender. “We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms,” military spokesperson Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said over dzbb radio. “If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed.” According to Ernesto Abella, presidential spokesperson, the call for the terrorists to surrender was made “to […]
