I vote NO for the following overriding reasons:

1. There is no constitutional and factual bases for the extension because rebellion does not persist in Mindanao and public safety is not imperiled. Sporadic incidents of lawlessness and terrorism do not make a rebellion. The justification proffered by the Executive is a rehashed pretense and a self-serving claim.

2. The extension of Proclamation No. 216 has no factual and constitutional anchorage because what is being extended is now functus officio after the President announce on October 27, 2017, more than one year ago, the liberation of Marawi City from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists and their influence, and the subsequent announcement of Martial Law Administrator Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on the cessation of combat operations.

3. The alleged remnants of the defeated terrorist groups are quixotic and phantom fighters who are unable to revive a vanquished “rebellion” or launch a new one.

4. An extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus will prolong inordinately the regime of Martial Law to a total of 951 days. This contravenes the prescription of the 1987 Constitution delimiting the period of martial law to a short duration since the original proclamation should not exceed 60 days.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN