This after the statement of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that there would be a Constitutional Crisis and that he would defy the Supreme Court if it orders Congress to have a joint session on the declaration of martial law.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella refused to comment on Alvarez’ pronouncement but stood by President Duterte’s statement that he will heed the SC.
“We will reserve comment on this matter, except to repeat the President’s statement that he will follow the Supreme Court’s decision,” Abella said during the Mindanao Hour press briefing over Radyo ng Bayan Saturday.
In an ambush interview in Sultan Kudarat Friday evening, President Duterte said he would heed the Supreme Court as the government is bound by rules but hoped that the High Court will take the terror situation into consideration.
“Of course [I will follow]. We are bound by rules. Supreme Court na ‘yan. Kung magbalik ‘yung mga ISIS doon, bahala na ang Supreme Court diyan mag-appreciate,” President Duterte said.
“I’m sure that they would take into account the fighting going on, and what’s behind it,” the President added.
President Duterte has claimed that the international extremist group ISIS is the one ‘purely’ responsible for the attacks in Marawi City.
According to Abella, the Executive Branch is ready to provide information to the Supreme Court on the factual basis for martial law and writ suspension.
“Martial law and writ suspension were deemed necessary to combat and neutralize the threat to public safety and national security posed by terrorists seeking to supplant government authority in Marawi at the instigation and with support from a brutal foreign entity, ISIS,” Abella said.
“We await the Supreme Court’s decision, and we stand ready to comply with it in full,” he added.
(c) ACG/MBO