Speaker Bebot Alvarez said President Rodrigo Duterte was just using his “common sense” when he declared martial law for the whole of Mindanao even though the terrorists’ rampage was limited only in Marawi City.
In a briefing, Alvarez said that the Constitution mandated the President to make a report to Congress which meant that Duterte would do the talking while the politikos do the listening.
Alvarez said there was nothing wrong if the President took advice only from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police because they have more intimate knowledge of the conditions on the ground that a battalion of armchair specialists and self-styled pundits.
Alvarez said Duterte would look like a fool if he declared martial law each time a terrorists group attacks a province.
Alvarez said Duterte would look like a fool if he declared martial law each time a terrorists group attacks a province.
“Alam mo, common sense na although sa Marawi lang yung putukan, e yung terrorism laganap yan sa buong Midnanao,” said Alvarez in a briefing.
“At saka halimbawa, tuloy-tuloy ang bakbakan doon, tumakbo yan sa kabilang probinsya, ang ibig sabihin mag-declare na naman yung Presidente ng martial law doon sa kabilang probinsya. So para namang gago yung Presidente, mayat-maya nagde-declare ng martial law para habulin yung ma terrorist na yun,” Alvarez said.Alvarez said that President Rodrigo Duterte was correct in declaring that he would only listen to the military and the police on when to stop or extend martial law.
In a briefing, Alvarez said that the Constitution mandated the President to make a report to Congress which meant that Duterte would do the talking while the politikos do the listening.
”Eh kasi wala namang nakalagay sa constitution na kailangang pakinggan ng Pangulo yung Kongreso. Kung ako yung Presidente hindi ako makikinig. Kasi ang dapat makinig kami, di ba? Hindi yung Presidente yung dapat makinig,” Alvarez said.
“Basahin mo yung constitution—anong sabi ng constittution? Yung Presidente dapat mag-report sa Congress—siya yung magre-report, kami yung makikinig. Alangan namang siya yung magre-report siya yung makikinig sa amin,” he added.
Alvarez said there was nothing wrong if the President took advice only from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police because they have more intimate knowledge of the conditions on the ground that a battalion of armchair specialists and self-styled pundits.
“Siyempre manggagaling talaga sa AFP yan at saka sa PNP, sila yung nasa ground eh. Sila yung nakakaalam kung nandun pa yung threat o wala na,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez said Congress giving advice to the President was different from Congress’ constitutional right to revoke martial law.”Iba yun ha? Power to revoke. Pag ni-revoke naming, sabi ng constitution obligadong sundin ng Presidente yun. Malinaw yun. Kaya lang pinapahirap natin,” he said.
Alvarez said Duterte would look like a fool if he declared martial law each time a terrorists group attacks a province.
