SC INTERNAL SESSION HELD ON MARTIAL LAW

The Supreme Court on Thursday ended the three-day oral arguments on the three consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation of martial law in Mindanao.

During the third day of the oral arguments, the magistrates had an internal discussion between respondents Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año together with Solicitor-General Jose Calida and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman representative of the petitioners.

Lorenzana was earlier designated as the martial law administrator while Año is its implementor.

In a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, SC Spokesperson Theodore Te said that the magistrates granted Calida’s request to hold an internal discussion in view of the sensitivity of the issues involved, especially on matters involving the country’s national security.

Such action, according to Te, is pursuant to Rule 119, Section 21 of the Rules of Court which allows the SC not to reveal bits of information to the public which are deemed confidential.

”Court heard request of SolGen and heard opposition and comments of petitioner counsels (and) decided to continue internal,” said Te.

He said it was not the first time the high court held an internal session in hearing a case, citing the Marcos vs Manglapuz case involving the return of the remains of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos to the country from Hawaii.

Te revealed that the two officials who stand as respondents in the case made a presentation before the high court.

No information on the presentation, however, was made public due to confidentiality of the matter that involves national security.

“After the presentation was made, the justices continued with the interpellation of the parties. After satisfying itself with the answers, the Court decided to conclude the oral arguments,” he told reporters.

The justices continued interpellation on Calida and Lagman, who represented the respondents and petitioners, respectively, during the closed door session.

As earlier set, the parties were required to submit their memoranda on or before Monday, before the SC submits the case for resolution on or before July 5.

The three consolidated petitions were filed by opposition lawmakers led by Lagman, local Mindanao leaders led by Lumad leader Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad.

The petitioners claimed that the declaration was baseless as there was no rebellion or invasion committed in the ongoing crisis because it was triggered by a military operation against Muslim militants allied with Isnilon Hapilon.

Following Thursday’s oral arguments, Calida said Lorenzana and Año presented intelligence information that bolstered the justification for Proclamation No. 216, but also did not reveal the details.

”General Ano and Sec Lorenzana. They were asked by the court, some of these are confidential, therefore we cannot divulge it before the public. I think it was a very enlightening presentation of facts, and we believe this well help the government’s case,” Calida told reporters.