Name: Aldrench Troy P.

Oracion
Grade & Section: XI-Honesty
(Output was submitted late: a deduction of 10 pts)

Martial Law Extension

M artial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civilian functions by a
government, especially in response to temporary emergency such as invasion by rebels or
major disaster, or in an occupied territory.

In our country, Martial Law has been imposed four times. The first was by President Jose P. Laurel on
September 21, 1944, effective the next day. The second was announced by President Ferdinand E. Marcos
on September 23, 1972. The third was by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 4, 2009,
covering the province of Maguindanao. The fourth, covering the entire island of Mindanao, was by
President Rodrigo Duterte late in the evening, of May 23, 2017. It comes months after the President’s
September 4, 2016 proclamation of a State of National Emergency due to “lawless violence in Mindanao”
which still stands.

At 10:00 pm on May 23, 2017, a group of rebels, who are the Maute Group started chaos on the Marawi.
The rebels fought the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Islamist group. The ongoing battle caused
damages to the properties and many buildings. Many civilians lost their lives.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole of Mindanao, including Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-
Tawi, under martial law. The proclamation was announced during a press briefing held in Moscow, where
Duterte was on an official visit; the state of martial law will be in effect for 60 days. Presidential
Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the declaration was possible given the "existence of rebellion," while
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano explained that the step was taken with "the safety, the lives and
property of people of Mindanao" in mind. Implementation is to be pursuant to the 1987 Constitution,
which provides for a maximum 60 day-state of martial law without Congress approval for extension, the
continuation of government functions, and the safeguard of individual freedoms.

Pres. Duterte stated that it will not be any different from martial law under President Ferdinand Marcos.
The declaration doesn’t currently affect the units of Luzon and Visayas. Duterte suggested that he might
extend the martial law in visayas if needed to protect the people.

Martial law is really needed in the Mindanao area because of the existence of many rebel groups. The
rebel groups are against the government.

The Marawi siege was triggered when the military tried to arrest top ISIL leader Isnilon Hapilon. This
prompted attackers to fight back, declaring the city a new caliphate of ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant group, also known as ISIS.

On July 23, 2017, lawmakers voted 261–18 (with no abstention among those present) in favor of the
President Rodrigo Duterte's request to give extension to Proclamation Order No. 216 during a special
joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This extension was valid until December 31,
2017.However, there are 18 people in the voting who voted NO, 4 incumbent Senators and 14 incumbent
Representatives.

On December 13, 2017, a special joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate was held in
order to respond to President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend the declaration of martial law in
Mindanao until December 31, 2018. In his letter addressed to the Congress, President Duterte cited the
remaining threats of ISIS-inspired terrorist groups. Congress voted 240–27 (14–4 from the Senate, 226–
23 from the House) in favor of the second extension.

Four petitions were filed before the Philippine Supreme Court questioning the year-long extension of
martial law in Mindanao. Few were against for the second extension because they’ve concluded that the
Marawi City had been liberated. On December 5, 2017, the Supreme Court voted 10-3-1 upholding the
implementation of martial law in Mindanao, with Supreme Court Justice Noel Tijam saying that the
extension was necessary because of persisting rebellion.

President Duterte's declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao region was met with polarized views
from the citizens with some reports indicating mixed reactions. However, actual surveys on the ground
indicate that majority of Filipinos are in favor of its imposition.