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A timeline-summary: the historic joint session of Congress on martial law
What are our lawmakers saying and how are they voting on the issue of martial law in Maguindanao? Here is a running report on what each of our lawmakers is saying as the historic joint session of Congress on Proclamation 1959 proceeds. Prior to December 9, 2009 Various groups of lawmakers draw up three resolutions calling for the revocation of Proclamation 1959. * House Resolution 1528 by Akbayan Reps. Walden Bello and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel * Joint Resolution 52 by the progressive party-list bloc, which includes Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, and Neri Colmenares; Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan; Anakpawis Reps. Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod; and Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino. * Joint Resolution 54, backed by 24 lawmakers from the Liberal Party and two more from Akbayan partylist For an updated list of the members of Congress who support the move to revoke Proclamation 1959, see: 51 lawmakers want martial law proclamation revoked See also: AN INITIAL TABLE OF ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST PROCLAMATION 1959 as compiled by GMANews.TV staff. December 9, 2009 4:27 pm - A Quorum is declared. 4:29 pm - Discussion starts on rules of the joint session 4:30 pm - The rules of the joint session are approved. 4:50 pm - Senator Richard Gordon criticizes the absence of the AFP chief and the DND secretary on such a matter of historic importance. 4:55 pm - Rep. Dilangalen (Maguindanao 1st dist.) questions the absence of Pres. Arroyo in the proceedings. The House Speaker clarifies that she is not required by the rules of the joint session to attend the proceedings. See also: Historic joint session on martial law starts with lawmakers trading barbs and AFP chief, DND secretary absent in Congress joint session on martial law 5:55 pm - PNP Chief of Operations Dir. Andres Caro delivers his presentation on the massacre before the Joint Houses. 6:32 pm - Caro finishes his presentation. Discussion on Caro's report starts. 7:20 pm - Discussion on Caro's report ends, AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado arrives for next presentation. 7:35 pm - Rep. Dilangalen (Maguindanao) inquiries about the status of cases vs the Ampatuans, the operation of regional trial courts, and the concept of "looming rebellion" which he compares to the 1935 Constitution's phrase "imminent rebellion" which was junked by the 1987 Constitution. Clarifications by DOJ Secretary Devanadera, AFP chief Gen. Ibrado. 7:55 pm - Rep. Dilangalen raises more questions about the existence of rebellion in Maguindanao, and the reasons of the paralysis of government operations before PP 1959. 8:10 pm - Sen. Joker Arroyo asks if Congress can reconvene at anytime to review Pres. Arroyo's actions under martial law - for example, if abuses are committed - even if it allows her to go ahead today. DOJ Sec. Devanadera sees no legal impediment to this, saying the Executive branch recognizes the legislative branch's power to review and revoke. 8:24 pm - Sen. Arroyo asks about MILF encampments, if these are covered by martial law, and asks for assurances that it will be lifted as soon as there is no longer need for it. (Break) 9:20 pm - Rep. Edcel Lagman (1st district Albay) says if Congress decides on revocation, then "we should hold our peace," and that abuses should be dealt with by the courts. Lagman grills Devanadera on the legal definition of rebellion as compared to the actual conditions that existed prior to PP 1959. 9:46 pm - Rep. Jinggoy Estrada of San Juan interpellates. 10:15 pm - Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna party-list interpellates. 11:00 pm - Session suspended, scheduled to resume at 2 pm December 10. December 10, 2009 First to interpellate after the session resumed past 2 p.m. was Senator Francis Pangilinan. He asked why martial law was declared in Maguindanao even if there were no violent clashes between rebels and government troops that could justify such a declaration. He also pointed out that the government did not place the province under martial rule in 2000, 2001, and 2008 despite the violent clashes that happened there in those years. He also questioned Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera's assertion that Proclamation 1959 was declared to contain an allegedly deliberate and synchronized move to paralyze the local government. "The Maguindanao courts are not functioning because of government inaction. It failed to fill up the vacancies. Seven of the eight regional trial courts in the province have not designated judges," Pangilinan said. Aside from Devanadera, top officials present to answer lawmakers' queries were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and Armed Forces chief General Victor Ibrado. December 12, 2009 President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lifts martial law in Maguindanao effective 9 p.m., retaining a state of emergency in the province. December 14, 2009 The historic joint session of the Congress ended with a whimper on Monday evening, with lawmakers failing to vote on the resolution to revoke the martial law declaration in Maguindanao, even as a significant number of senators and representatives insisted that the declaration had no legal basis. Majority of Lower House members deemed the issue as "moot academic" due to the lifting of martial law on December 12. "The President's action has deprived Congress of its constitutional mandate to exercise oversight on how martial powers are wielded," said Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in an en banc session, after petitioners led by Atty. Harry Roque of Center for International Law pressed the high court to decide on the constitutionality of the declaration, as well as clarify "gray areas" in the application of the President's martial law powers.
