Juan Ponce Enrile Wants President to have Sole Power to Declare Martial Law

JUAN PONCE ENRILE – The President’s Chief Legal Counsel wants the Chief Executive to have the sole power to declare Martial Law.

Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile who is currently the chief legal counsel of Pres. Bongbong Marcos wants the sole power of declaring Martial Law to rest on the president of the country. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, during a Senate hearing on charter change, the President’s Chief Legal Counsel said that seeking the approval of the Congress in the declaration of Martial Law is detrimental to the nation. According to him, the 1935 and the 1973 Constitutions gave the president the right to make a move when he or she sees threats against the country. He wants to scrap the 1987 Constitution which allows only the declaration of Martial Law when there is insurrection or a national threat.

Details about the Martial Law in the Philippines (Declaration)

MARTIAL LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES – Here is what happens in the country under the declaration of Martial Law by the sitting president.

One of the historical events in the Philippines was when the country was placed under Martial Law. It was during the term of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The government then claimed that the threat of the side who are against the government was the reason behind the declaration.

Under the current 1987 Philippine Constitution, the President or the Head of State may declare Martial Law “in case of invasion or rebellion” or when the safety of the public is at risk. In other nations, it is termed “state of emergency”.

During a Martial Law, the country is under the control of the military. One of the primary bodies that implement the declaration of the head of the state is the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

During a Martial Law, curfews may be implemented. There are also the suspensions of the civil law and civil rights. The writ of habeas corpus which protects the people from an unlawful or indefinite imprisonment is also suspended. Furthermore, there is the application or extension of military law and military justice to civilians. Civilians who are going against the declaration may be subject to court trials.

The declaration of Martial Law in the country that greatly marked the history was the nationwide declaration of then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on September 23, 1972. It continued until January 17, 1981. The Marcos regime was linked to a lot of negative issues including the accusations that link the death of many Filipinos as a result of going against the dictatorship.

The record holds that most of the victims were political opponents, journalists, student activists, farmers, and religious workers. The Marcoses were ousted from Malacañang through the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.

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You may also read – Ferdinand Marcos Biography: From Birth Up To Hero’s Burial