Pimentel says martial law petitioners ‘wasting time’

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday said petitioners opposing the declaration of martial law in Mindanao are just “wasting time.”

“Terrorism is not rebellion. That is correct. But why are they even discussing that? The martial law proclamation says that there is actual rebellion,” Pimentel said when sought for comment on the petitioners’ argument that terrorism does not equate to rebellion.

On the first day of oral arguments at the Supreme Court (SC), the petitioners led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said acts of terrorism “are not necessarily equivalent to actual rebellion and the consequent requirement of securing public safety.”

Lagman said the elements of rebellion such as removing the Philippines or a part from allegiance to the Republic or preventing the President or Congress from exercising their powers and prerogatives were not present in the Marawi crisis.

Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution states that the President may declare martial law in cases of “invasion” or “rebellion.”

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 declaring martial law in Mindanao stated that the Maute group’s attacks in Marawi City “constitute the crime of rebellion.”

“So what is their point in wasting time about terrorism?” Pimentel said, referring to the petitioners.

Pimentel, president of the ruling PDP-Laban party, is one of the authors of a Senate resolution expressing support for Dutere’s martial law declaration. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News