Most senators want martial law revoked - Enrile

Posted at 12/07/2009 1:30 PM | Updated as of 12/07/2009 6:35 PM

MANILA (1st UPDATE) - Majority of the senators who attended a caucus on Monday morning were for the revocation of Proclamation 1959 imposing martial law in Maguindanao, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Eighteen out of 23 senators want to throw out President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's declaration of martial law in Maguindanao. However, they acknowledge the Senate vote may be rendered useless in a joint session due to sheer numbers of the House of Representatives, which has 268 members.

However, Enrile said the Senate's position was a non-binding agreement and was subject to the presentation of facts in the coming days by Malacañang.

Enrile said he expects that Malacañang will be given time to present the factual bases for the martial law proclamation in Maguindanao. After getting all the facts, the senators will formally vote based on their assessment.

Enrile also said it was the sentiment during the caucus that if Proclamation 1959 is going to continue, and assuming that Congress will not revoke it, then it should be for a shorter period than the 60 days allowed by the Constitution.

The senators, however, did not say what would be an acceptable period for the lawmakers.

The Senate will also not be voting as one in the joint session of Congress when they discuss Proclamation 1959. 

The Senate also agreed to communicate to the House of Representatives their intention to have a joint session at the Batasan Pambansa building presumably at 4 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss again the mechanics of the joint session.

No quick voting seen

Enrile believes there won't be any voting on the matter soon because he expects protracted discussions and debates on the rules to be adopted for the joint session of Congress. 

When asked if he expects voting to take place on Tuesday or in the coming days, Enrile said this may take some time.

Senators designated majority floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to coordinate with his counterpart in the House of Representatives to thresh out the rules to be adopted in the joint session on Tuesday.

One of the issues to be threshed out in the rules of the joint session is whether both Houses should vote jointly or separately.

Enrile believes the two Houses have to vote jointly or as one because the Constitution does not say separately when the agenda is martial law.  Jointly means all the members the Senate and the House of Representatives in the joint session.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said on Saturday that in a joint session, the House of Representatives will be able to outvote the Senate since they have 268 members and there are only 23 senators. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is still detained.

Nograles also said that majority of congressmen do not want to revoke Proclamation 1959.

Enrile anticipates there will be a lengthy discussion on the rules of the joint session.

Not until May 2010 polls

Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. opposed Monday a proposal to extend the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao until the May 2010 elections.

Pimentel said a majority of senators are opposing the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao, which allows for warrantless arrests in the province.

"The problem with having a state of martial law in the country is that it affects the poor and those who have no connections with people in power," Pimentel told reporters.

He added: "They could arrest you just because they don't like your face."

Pimentel opposed the proposal of Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, Armed Forces vice chief of staff for operations, to extend Presidential Proclamation No. 1959 until the May 2010 elections.

Instead of extending the period of martial law, he said government should lift the state of martial rule and focus on the prosecution of the suspects in the November 23 massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

"That's too much. They've arrested several people and they've already confiscated several firearms and ammunition. There are also reports that they got election paraphernalia. What they should do is account for these things and let the law continue on its course. File charges against the suspects and bring the case to Cebu or Manila so that the witnesses can testify," he said.

Meanwhile, members of leftist party-list group Bayan Muna staged a picket outside the south gate of the Batasan Pambansa to protest Proclamation 1959.

They asked the lower House to revoke the proclamation immediately since the Arroyo government might expand the coverage of martial law to other provinces even without any basis.

President Arroyo only has six months left in her term. -- based on reports from Lynda Jumilla and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News


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57 comments

To Ponch 78?

Bro, Tanong ko lang kung totoong sundalo ka saan ka ba na assign?..
Kung sundalo ka saan ang prinsipyo at loyalty mo ngayon? kasi sayong comments it means that you are anti- Arroyo right? Kung ayaw mo ng ML ngayon sa Maguindanao 4 whatever reason bakit? paki paliwanag ngah? kung sa tingin mo mali si Arroyo as Commander in Chief it means that you are following fault orders? Bro, just for you This is not only a question after all of Legalities and Technicalities but also a questions of principles and Loyalty right? Alam kong matalino kong totoo man ang kutob ko? nabasa ko kasi sa mga iba mong comments na mas binibigyan mo pa ang bigat ng pag korek ng spelling at grammar ng mga nag comments dito kysa maipalbas ang totoo mong hinaing at sensible comments ngayon please answer me and give me some details of Principles as Soldiers of what you claim if is is true? Ito walang Personalan pero gusto ko lang yong side mo being as a human and citizen of this country and as Mindanaoan....am waiting for your Explanation please?...Thanks,
Peace!

PAGBABAGO NG BAYAN AY NASA ATING SARILING MGA KAMAY AT KATAUHAN, MAGTRABAHO KA KAIBIGAN PARA SA IYONG KINABUKASAN: Remember this: God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

Bro, Tanong ko lang kung

Bro, Tanong ko lang kung totoong sundalo ka saan ka ba na assign?..
Kung sundalo ka saan ang prinsipyo mo ngayon? Kung ayaw mo ng ML ngayon sa Maguindanao 4 whatever reason bakit? paki paliwanag ngah? kung sa tingin mo mali si Arroyo as Commander in Chief it means that you are following fault orders? Bro, just for you This is not only a question after all of Legalities and technicalities but also a questions of principles and Loyalty right? Alam kong matalino ka kong totoo man ang kutob ko? nabasa ko kasi sa mga iba mong comments na mas binibigyan mo pa ang bigat ng pag korek ng spelling at grammar ng mga nag comments dito kysa maipalabas ang totoo mong hinaing at sensible comments ngayon please answer me and give me some details of your principles as soldiers of what you claim if is is true? Ito walang Personalan pero gusto ko lang marinig yong side mo being as a human and citizen of this country and as a Mindanaoan....am waiting for your Explanation please?...Thanks,
Peace!

PAGBABAGO NG BAYAN AY NASA ATING SARILING MGA KAMAY AT KATAUHAN, MAGTRABAHO KA KAIBIGAN PARA SA IYONG KINABUKASAN: Remember this: God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

To Ponch 78.....

Bro, Tanong ko lang kung totoong sundalo ka saan ka ba na assign?..
Kung sundalo ka saan ang prinsipyo mo ngayon? Kung ayaw mo ng ML ngayon sa Maguindanao 4 whatever reason bakit? paki paliwanag ngah? kung sa tingin mo mali si Arroyo as Commander in Chief it means that you are following fault orders? Bro, just for you This is not only a question after all of Legalities and Technicalities but also a questions of principles and Loyalty right? Alam kong matalino kong totoo man ang kutob ko? nabasa ko kasi sa mga iba mong comments na mas binibigyan mo pa ang bigat ng pag korek ng spelling at grammar ng mga nag comments dito kysa maipalbas ang totoo mong hinaing at sensible comments ngayon please answer me and give me some details of Principles as Soldiers of what you claim if is is true? Ito walang Personalan pero gusto ko lang yong side mo being as a human and citizen of this country and as Mindanaoan....am waiting for your Explanation please?...Thanks,
Peace!

PAGBABAGO NG BAYAN AY NASA ATING SARILING MGA KAMAY AT KATAUHAN, MAGTRABAHO KA KAIBIGAN PARA SA IYONG KINABUKASAN: Remember this: God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

To andoybarrios..at sa lahat ng ayaw sa ML of Maguindanao!

Bro, tanong ko lang sayo nakapunta ka na bah ng Mindanao? Huwag mo maipagmalaki sa amin ang utak mong bulok? At sabi mo sa ibang comments na ikaw ay isang aktibista naku at huwag mo maipagmalaki sa amin yan ang pagiging aktibista mo? saan ba kokoti ang tanda muna wala ka namang pinagtandaan? ang pagiging aktibista ay depende yon kung ano ang inyong ipinaglalaban at ito ba ay may katuturan at realidad? ang sitwasyon ngayon ay iba sa panahon niyo dati? ang mga tao ngayon lalo na yong mga kabataan ay mulat na ang mata at hindi tulad mo tulog o nakapikit sa katotohanan, tandaan mo bro ang katotohanan ay siyang magpapalaya ng tao? to tell you dati ang Martial law covered by 1935 constitution at ang ML ngayon ay malaking pagkakaiba sa dati gets? magbasa ka ulit baka lumang version yang hawak mo o diba nagbasa ka ngah hindi mo naman naintindihan dahil English o dba gusto mo tagalogin ko pa para maintindihan mo? i think na mas matanda ka sa amin at nerespeto kita sa punto na yan pero hindi ko rerespetuhin ang idea mo na bali? Manong andoy the main objectives of ML right there is a swift moved to disarmed all private armies in connection of the massacre and by then, if the weapons is positive of the ballistic test in connection to the crime this can be used to connect the suspects and totally can solved the case even if it is confiscated during ML gets? all of this is beyond probable cause depende kung gaano ka bigat ang ebedensya at gaano ka credible ang testimony ng mga witnesses. sana nman po huwag kayo maging paranoid at hipokrito sa usaping ito at isantabi niyo muna ang galit niyo kay Arroyo? Manong andoy huwag kang magmalaki sa alam mo sa batas na pinagsasabi mo just look at the actual situation right there and bring your book of knowledge and show me how to implement laws infront of the victims in the area of lawless land.
I dare you now subukan mong pumunta doon particularly in Maguindanao at magdala ka ng libro at isigaw ang batas na sinasabi mo kung may maniniwala ba sa iyo? subukan mong tumira doon under Ampatuan Law tingnan lang natin kung hindi ka iihi sa takot? Tingnan natin kung kaninong itlog ang pipiyok? Palibhasa ang galing niyong magsalita eh wala nman kayong ginawa? At am sure wala kayong magawa kundi ang mag-ingay? alam Manong andoy o brother andoy palaboy lahat naman tayo galit kay Gloria pero sa usaping ito sana nman tigilan niyo yang usaping pang politika? tinatanong niyo ang legalities ng ML dahil takot kayo sa technicalities eh hayaan niyo muna ang mga imbestigador sa kaso at maglahad ng mga ebedensiya bago kayo manghusga: eh kung wala kayong magawa para solusyunan ang Isla ng Mindanao particularly now in Maguindanao eh sana tumahimik nalang kayo? sa mga moslem territory bro doon ay minsan kinalimutan na ng mga ibang tao ang due process, some people were not after of what you said constitution, people right there were challenged on how to survived each day of living sa kahit anong paraan kaya huwag kayong magmalaki na may malasakit kayo sa mga tao doon dahil sa totoo lang Martial Law right there as of now is better than Ampatuan Law? Martial Law right now is totally different before during Marcos Regime and under 1935 Constitution. kaya ung mga kinatatakutan niyo ay possibe din yan mangyari pero dapat niyong tandaan that Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is one way ahead of us and now we need to moved on. Whenever Gloria is proven guilty of her mistakes let the law will prevail and the justice system will work for it? iyong mga sinisigaw niyo laban kay Gloria ay hindi solusyon sa Maguindanao ngayon at lalo na sa Massacre kya kung sa akala niyo magaling kayo punta kayo doon ngayon at subukan niyong manghuli ng private armies at mag imbestiga ng kaso gets?

PAGBABAGO NG BAYAN AY NASA ATING SARILING MGA KAMAY AT KATAUHAN, MAGTRABAHO KA KAIBIGAN PARA SA IYONG KINABUKASAN: Remember this: God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

Mula ngayon, hindi mo na

Mula ngayon, hindi mo na maipagmamalaki na anti-ARROYO ka because everybody will know the truth. At malalaman nila kung anong klase ang pagkatao mo! PONCH78, THE PRETENDER, IS UNDER ARROYO'S WINGS AFTER ALL!

*** Ang pagsilbi sa bayan ay hindi dapat katamaran. Bayan dapat ang inuuna. Kalimutan muna ang pag-endorso sa kaibigan o pagbili ng mamahaling sasakyan. Nangako ka sa bayan. Tuparin mo. ***

Sundalo ka nga! Akala mo kung

Sundalo ka nga! Akala mo kung sino ka na nagmamalinis at anti-ARROYO kuno ka pa, yun pala nasa ilalim ka ng pamamahala niya? Sino ang BOBO ngayon ha? Kung totoo ka sa mga pinagsasasabi mo, tumiwalag ka na at maghanap ka ng sasapiang iba. Akala mo kung sino kang matapang at kung bastusin mo ang amo mong pandak ay ganun na lang. SIGE NGA, KAYA MO BANG SABIHIN YAN NG NAKAHARAP ANG AMO MO? DUWAG ANG TAONG TULAD MO. TINATRAYDOR MO ANG AMO MO PERO NAKADIKIT KA PA RIN SA INSTITUSYONG PINAMAMAHALAAN NIYA. Akala mo masisindak mo ako nung sabihin mong reservist ka? BOBO! Pinakilala mo lang buong pagkatao mo sa akin at binigyan mo ako ng masasabi against sa iyo.

BOBO talaga. Hindi iniisip ang sasabihin bago magsalita. TALO KA NA! I OWN YOU PONCH78.

*** Ang pagsilbi sa bayan ay hindi dapat katamaran. Bayan dapat ang inuuna. Kalimutan muna ang pag-endorso sa kaibigan o pagbili ng mamahaling sasakyan. Nangako ka sa bayan. Tuparin mo. ***

sabi mo kanina, sundalo ba

sabi mo kanina, sundalo ba ako. sinagot lang kita, bobo!


artillery? alam mo ba

artillery? alam mo ba sinasabi mo? BOBO ka talaga. Sabi ni Puno, papatakas na ang grupo ni Ampatuan. kung tumatakas ka, hinding-hindi ka magdadala ng mabibigat na artillery, BOBO! naniwala ka naman sa sinasabi ni Puno, uto-uto ka rin pala.


artillery? alam mo ba

artillery? alam mo ba sinasabi mo? BOBO ka talaga. Sabi ni Puno, papatakas na ang grupo ni Ampatuan. kung tumatakas ka, hinding-hindi ka magdadala ng mabibigat na artillery, BOBO! naniwala ka naman sa sinasabi ni Puno, uto-uto ka rin pala.


Is that a threat?

Hahaha. Is that a threat? Nag-iinit na ba ang bumbunan mo kasi hindi ka makasabay sa akin? I told you before, HINDI KA MANANALO SA AKIN. Wala akong pakialam kung anak ka man ng general o anak ka ng presidente. Bakit kailangan mong sabihin na army reservist ka? Nagtatanong ba ako ng tungkol sa pagkatao mo? Nababasa na kita Ponch78. Galit na galit ka na sa akin. Kung may baril ka siguro at kaharap mo ako, eh baka itinutok mo na sa sentido ko. Kaya lang paano mo magagawa yun kung ang kalaban mo eh marunong din humawak ng armas? Your threats mean nothing to me. Hollow ang mga salita mo. Walang laman. Katulad ng utak mo. You shouldn't brag and you should not give information about yourself na puwedeng gamitin sa iyo. That's rule number one di ba? Eh ngayon alam ko na na army reservist ka at ang susunod na tanong ko... ANO ANG GINAGAWA MO DIYAN? IKAW PALA AY TAO NI ARROYO! AMO MO PALA ANG PRESIDENTE NG PILIPINAS! BAKIT KUNG ANO-ANO ANG SINASABI MONG KABASTUSAN SA AMO MO? KUNG AYAW MO SA AMO MONG PANDAK, DON'T ALLY YOURSELF WITH HER! REGARDLESS SA MGA SINASABI MO, DAHIL RESERVIST KA, HINDI NG MILF, HINDI NG NPA, HINDI NG MGA AMPATUANS... RESERVIST KA NG SANDATAHANG PILIPINAS! SAMAKATUWID, AMO MO SI ARROYO!

Ang kapal ng mukha mo.

*** Ang pagsilbi sa bayan ay hindi dapat katamaran. Bayan dapat ang inuuna. Kalimutan muna ang pag-endorso sa kaibigan o pagbili ng mamahaling sasakyan. Nangako ka sa bayan. Tuparin mo. ***


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