By Hannah Torregoza

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said the government should not dangle amendments to the Human Security Act (HSA) as the reasons why martial law in Mindanao should no longer be extended when it expires on December 31.

Sen. Franklin Drilon
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)

This was Drilon’s reaction to statements earlier made by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said that another extension of martial law would not be necessary if Congress amends certain provisions in the HSA.

“The passage or non-passage of the amendments to the Human Security Act is not ground for extending martial law in Mindanao,” Drilon said.

“Do not dangle lifting martial law in Mindanao in exchange for the speedy passage of the HSA,” he said.

Citing Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, Drilon said it was clear that martial law may be declared only if actual rebellion exists and “Congress may extend the declaration if the rebellion persists and public safety requires it.”

“That is the only ground for extension of martial law. But it is clear since day one that the martial law or its extension in Mindanao has no basis,” Drilon said.

“It is high time that we lift it and bring back normalcy in the region,” he stressed, adding that Lorenzana was correct in voicing out everybody’s observation that martial law in Mindanao “has been going on for too long.”

Congress, he said, can revoke martial law even without amendments to the Human Security Act.

“I hope they will not use martial law to pressure on Congress to pass the amendments to the HSA,” he said.

“The non-passage of amendments to the HSA should not be used as a basis or justification to further extend martial law. The amendments need thorough debates,” Drilon insisted.