PRESS STATEMENT
Office of Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
(LP-Albay)
0916-6406737 / 0918-9120137
10 August 2016

Such pronouncement, although off-the-cuff, is gravely disturbing in the context of two relevant current events.

First, the predisposition of President Duterte to bury the remains of the late President Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani is reflective of his mindset of honoring the deposed dictator who declared martial law and masterminded a power grab which lasted 14 ignominious years.

Second, the hegemony of super majorities both in the House and the Senate would facilitate the declaration of martial law and assure its extension.

The Congress voting jointly has the power to revoke the declaration of martial law by an absolute majority vote of the Representatives and Senators and the authority to extend the duration of martial law.

Sec. 18 of Art. VII of the Constitution states that:

“Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President.”

The same section further provides that:

“Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

With super majorities in the Congress, the revocation of a martial law declaration is farfetched and the extension of its duration is a certainty.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN