MANILA, Philippines - Several lawmakers welcomed the move of Malacañang to lift martial law in Maguindanao effective 9 p.m., Saturday.

Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen welcomed the announcement of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and expressed hope this would restore normalcy in the province he represents in the House of Representatives.

Dilangalen told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) said he was happy President Arroyo lifted martial law since it was difficult living in fear under the military provincial government.

He said there was "no factual basis" to declare martial law in Maguindanao in the first place.

With the lifting of martial law, House Speaker Prospero Nograles told ANC that Congress will likely meet on Monday at 4 p.m. to "formally close" the joint session tackling martial law. 

He said the pending issue of whether to revoke martial law in Maguindanao has become "academic and moot because we meet only to revoke."

Nograles said martial law enabled the government to suppress the rebellion and lawlessness in the province.

Nograles said he will talk to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on how they will close the joint session.

He said it would have been difficult for the anti-martial law legislators to get 147 majority votes to revoke martial law. 

Martial law achieved goals

In an interview with ANC, Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin, who had expressed support for the imposition of martial law during the joint session this week, said the lifting of martial law after 8 days showed that it was able to achieve its objectives.

"I had a sense it would be of short duration," he said. "If it's succeeding, then we do not need to continue it."

He said martial law was needed to deliver a "shock and awe" on the "Ampatuan monarchy" in Maguindanao. He said the military energy displayed during martial law made the "Ampatuan army...listen to reason."

"We needed to scare the living daylights out of them," he said.

Locsin said the military never committed a single human rights abuse during the 8 days of martial law, except for breaking down a door in  order to take into custody former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said he expects the majority to adjourn the joint session on the ground that the issue has become moot and academic.

Could not stand test of time

"The lifting is expected considering that the longer martial law was in effect, the more difficult it would be to justify and prove the existence of a rebellion. The rebellion existed only in their minds. The illegal proclamation could not stand the test of time," Pangilinan said.  

"The longer it took for them to lift it, the greater the burden for them to prove the fake rebellion. It is a bogus rebellion and a bogus proclamation that should not have been declared in the first place," he said.

Rep. Teodoro Casiño of party-list Bayan Muna said the lifting "makes this experiment with martial law more curious. I wonder what the basis for the lifting is? Are they now saying the rebellion that has yet to be seen and heard will be quelled come 9 pm tonight?"

"While the earlier the lifting of martial law is better, this surely raises more questions on the basis or need for martial law in the first place," he said.