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BY GLENN VIDAL BEUP
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Friday, June 30, 2017
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ROXAS City – Lawmakers opposing the proclamation of martial law in Mindanao took a three-day break in this city and Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.
Their colleague Rep. Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones (Capiz, 1st District) hosted them at the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”
“This is actually a working vacation for us,” Billones told this reporter. “We held dialogues and consultations with stakeholders, including the media.”
Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st District), Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao), Tomasito Villarin (Akbayan party-list), and Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) arrived in Roxas on Wednesday.
Their recess did not stop the congressmen from taking a potshot at fellow politicians they were critical of.
Edgar Erice (Caloocan) and Raul Daza (Northern Samar) were unable to join them.
While Daza was out of the country, “[Erice] was scheduled for a medical checkup in Manila, hindi tulad ng iba diyan na tinatago and totoong kalagayan ng kanyang kalusugan,” Lagman said, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte, whose health became a subject of speculations in light of his absence from the public eye.
“Government doctors must issue a certification on the health of the President,” he added. “His disappearing act requires an explanation.”
The congressmen asserted that there was no basis to place the entire Mindanao under martial law amid the clashes between government troops and the Maute local terrorist group in Marawi City.
They filed one of the three consolidated petitions questioning the proclamation before the Supreme Court. The high tribunal was reportedly set to decide on the petitions next week.
“Sen. Vicente Sotto (III) said those against the martial law should go to Marawi and engage in a war against the Maute group,” Lagman said. “We wish to tell him that he should go to Mindanao and help implement it (martial law). He thought he is still with Eat Bulaga.”
Declaring martial law in Lanao del Sur “might be acceptable, but not in the entire Mindanao,” Alejano said.
“What we are questioning is the process of decision-making of the President,” Villarin told this reporter. “Declaring martial law will never resolve the conflict. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can subdue lawless violence, like what happened in the Zamboanga siege, in the Ipil massacre, among others, without martial [rule].”/PN
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