Senate says martial law unconstitutional
MANILA, Philippines - Majority of senators on Monday signed a resolution declaring as unconstitutional President Arroyo's proclamation of martial law in Maguindanao.
A total of 18 senators signed Senate Resolution 1522, authored by Liberal Party Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
Pangilinan said the resolution sends a clear message to Malacañang that the Senate considers the martial law declaration as without factual and legal basis.
“For the Senate, the lifting does not render the issue moot and academic, and the resolution is a definitive finding by the upper chamber that the declaration is contrary to the constitution," he said in a statement.
President Arroyo placed Maguindanao under martial law last December 5 after armed supporters of the Ampatuan clan allegedly threatened violence if their leaders were arrested for the November 23 massacre of 57 people. The President lifted the martial law proclamation last Saturday after more than 60 people including five Ampatuan family members were arrested and charged with rebellion.
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@Publicity Hungry Seeking Senators
Are you implying it is the Senate that is to blame for the goverment not following clearly stated law. You must be kidding? That is paramount to the administration spokesperson claiming that it is the oppositions fault if the Supreme Court rules that Martial Law was declared unconstitutionally.
If the goverment had done it's job by following the law, for example, securing a warrant before you search and seize, we wouldn't be discussing this.
The government has hundreds of lawyers, do they think we are stupid enough to believe they didn't know they needed a warrant?
Take for instance when they waited 4 days to charge Andal Ampatuan Sr. They claimed they were not able to file on the 3rd day since it was a holiday in Cotabato City. Do you mean no one in the government could foresee a holiday?
One lie after another and the people just drink it up and ask for more...
Publicity Hungry Seeking Senators
Let's say we all agree with these all time grand standing senators. We all go the streets, to Batasan, Edsa, Malacanang, the SC and demand Martial Law declaration be delcared unconstitutional. What should happen next? Realease all the arrested Ampatuan monsters, let them loose on the the streets of Maguindanao again, give them back everything that were seized, guns, armored vehicle, missiles, etc., with the virtue of Martial Law. Yeah, let's do it, let's all shout, "M.Santiago, Pangilinan, et al, are right! Damn with with Gloria, damn with the military, damn with the bishops that argued in favor of Martial Law in Maguindanao! Realease all the Ampatuans now who were arrested illegally! We don't care about those 30 journalists who begged for their lives on their knees before they were slaughtered! We don't care about those women who were shot on their genitals while laughing their hearts out! Release Ampatuans, Realease, Realease! You dumb and stupid senators!
Noynoy's lead in opinion polls drops, Gibo's rating surges
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532400&publicationSubCate...
This Goverment is the Problem Not solution
Don't ever trust this Goverment...Media and all people of the philippines we need to watch the case against the Ampatuan..IT'S MULTIPLE MURDER NOT REBELLION....
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE 18 SENATOR
WITH MINDANAO WE DON'T THINK SO. IT IS NECESSARY. IT IS NOT WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG BUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR MINDANAO. SABIHIN NATIN UNCONSTITUTIONAL BUT ANO PO ANG ALTERNATIVE NINYO. PALIBHASA HINDI KAYO ANG PRESIDENTE NG PILIPINAS. PARA SA MINDANAO THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT MRS ARROYO DID FOR MINDANAO DECLARING MARTIAL LAW. SABI NGA NI GIBO PAANO NATING MAIMPLEMENT. PAANO MO MAHUHULI ITONG MGA SANGKOT SA MASSACRES KUNG NANIDYANG ANG MGA GUNGUNG NA ABUGADO NILA. BAGO MAHULI NINYO SILA MARAMING BALAKID. KAYA ANG MARTIAL LAW AY GAMOT SA PAGKAKATAON NA ITO. MADALI MAIISAGAWA ANG PAGDAKIP. SAKA MAGAGAWA NILA MADISARMAHAN ANG MGA PRIVATE ARMIES. KAYA ANG MABUTI IDECLARE ANG MARTIAL LAW SA BUONG MINDANAO PARA MALINIS NG SUNDALO ANG MASAMANG DAMO NG LIMPUNAN. SINO BA SILA MARAMI. NANDIYAN ANG MILF, MNLF, PRIVATE ARMIES, MGA TIWALANG LOCAL OFFICIALS, MGA ABUSADONG SUNDALO AT PULIS, AT ABUSSAYAP.
kung pwede sana
Sana magkaroon ng batas na nagbabawal tumakbong presidente at bise presidente ng bansa ang mga senador na nakaupo.View ko lang po ito.Bakit??Tingnan nyo ngayon ang nangyayari sa senado,bawat isa nagbabatikusan imbis na asikasuhin nila ang kani-kanilang mga trabaho.
Not convinced
Unfortunely 1,001 arms have been illegally confiscated during warantless searches and seizures; arms which could've been matched to those used during the massacre using ballistics tests.
Yes, the Constitution should be revisited. The problem remains that it wasn't changed prior to Proclamation 1959.
@Clarifications:Clarifying
On your 1st Item rebuttal: The bodies of the victims is the evidence and material that will support the testimonial witnesses.
"It will not hold up to the test of time". This is why the constitution is a wonderful evolving document, it will forever and always change. That is how our forefathers made it to be.
Mga sir nman...
With all due respect sa ating gingalang na mga senador... alam ko pong matatalino kayo, na higit kayong may alam sa akin at sa iban nating mga kbbayan patungkol sa batas.
Ngunit tanong ko lng.. ano ba ang basehan pra ma-deklara ang batas militar?? sa akin pong nabasa, pwde po lamang ma-edeklara ang batas militar pag may rebelyong nangyayari at panganib na naka-ambang sa kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan.. kung ito po ung tamang basehan, sa palagay ko po.. hndi lamang sa maguindanao ang nararapat na isa-ilalim sa batas-militar..
Ilang dekada na pong may rebelyon sa mindanao, na d po ma-alisalis.. ilang presidente na ang dumaan, ngunit andyan parin ang rebelyon.. kng panganib nman, kabalikat ng rebelyon ay ang panganib na mdamay ang mga inusenteng mamayan sa kaguluhuan. so, ano pa ang hinahanap nyo??
Again, with all due respect... sa akin pong palagay, basura ang nkkarami sa gobyerno (kng d man lahat). Wala pong ibang ginawa kng d ang mgsalita..walang matibay na paninindigan, ang una sa kanila ang ssabihin ng tao sa knila, bago ang nasa isip nla na mkkabuti sa tao. kng saan sila mkakakuha ng mas maraming boto, doon cla kahit na mkomprimiso pa ang kanilang pannindigan.
i agree
darn the leftist......down with them..all they can see is the negative that government does. they will not stop unless we are a communist country. damn if you do and damn if you dont ang lumalabas.......nung una pinapaalis nila martial law,,,,nung tinanggal....REKLAMO nanaman! kelangan kasi sila ang bida at sila ang magtatanggal...well i guess napipikon sila dahil nautakan nanaman sila ni gloria