SolGen to SC: Martial law to defend liberty

THAT THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) was asked to defend President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s martial-law declaration over of Mindanao on the anniversary of Philippine Independence is not a mere coincidence, according to Solicitor General Jose C. Calida.

“One hundred nineteen years ago, our heroes fought hard for the democracy we enjoy today. In our midst is a real and present danger that threatens our lives and much-cherished liberties. In response to this danger, President Duterte issued Proclamation No. 216,” Mr. Calida said in a consolidated comment filed before the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday.

“Respondents invite this Honorable Court to uphold President [ Rodrigo R.] Duterte’s timely and decisive action, and be his partner in protecting and defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr. Calida also said.

The OSG was directed to file its reply, on behalf of public respondents, on the consolidated petitions asking for the nullification of Proclamation No. 216 or the declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus over the country’s main southern island of Mindanao and its island groups.

Last week, three groups of petitioners — composed of lawmakers, residents of Marawi City and human- rights groups — trooped to the Supreme Court (SC) to challenge the “sufficiency of factual basis” of Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216.

The Solicitor General underscored the existence of rebellion in Mindanao as Mr. Duterte’s basis for placing Mindanao under martial law, adding that Proclamation No. 216 “is a rallying call for every Filipino to unite behind one true flag and defend it against all threats from within and outside our shores.”

“Quite the contrary, the Proclamation is amply supported by facts that a rebellion does exist, and public safety requires it.”

“There are four-inspired groups that operate in different parts of Mindanao. These groups have formed alliances for the purpose of establishing a wilayah (province) in Mindanao,” Mr. Calida said, naming the said groups as: The Abu- Sayyaf group, the Ansarul Khilafah Philippines (AKP), the Maute Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

According to Mr. Calida, the four groups committed a “uniform pledge of allegiance to ISIS.”

“The siege of Marawi City on 23 May 2017 is a pivotal event in a grander scheme to dismember Mindanao from the rest of the Philippine territory and pledge its allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS),” Mr. Calida added.

Mr. Duterte issued his proclamation following the Maute terrorist group’s May 23 attack on Marawi City.

In a separate phone conference with reporters, Mr. Calida further defended Mr. Duterte’s proclamation saying the President “has access to intelligence reports beyond the capability of other media to vet.”

“Petitioners attempt to do this (disputing the veracity and credibility of facts established in the proclamation) by citing news reports that allegedly contradict the facts in Proclamation No. 216, as well as inviting a piecemeal evaluation of the violent incidents that happened in Marawi,” the OSG said in its comment.