The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed Martial law in the Mindanao group of islands.
Proclamation No. 216 declaring a state of Martial law was signed by the President on May 23, 2017.
The Reasons for the declaration are the following:
1. The series of violent acts committed by the Maute terrorist group such as the attack on the military outpost in Butig, lanao Del Sur in February 2016, killing and wounding several soldiers.
2. The Mass Jailbreak in Marawi City in August 2016, freeing the terrorists arrested comrades and other detainees.
3. The Taking Over of a hospital in Marawi City on May 23, 2017 by the Maute terrorist group. Establishing several check points within the City and burning down certain government buildings and private facilities and inflicted casualties on government security forces.
4. The Flying of the ISIS flag in several areas, openly attempting to remove from the allegiance to the Philippine government this part of Mindanao and deprive the President or Chief Executive of his powers and prerogatives to enforce the laws of the land and to maintain public order and safety in Mindanao.
11 Things You Need To Know About Martial law in the Philippines
1. Only the President can declare a state of Martial law.
2. The Grounds for declaring Martial Law are Invasion and Rebellion and public safety requires it.
3. The Invasion or Rebellion must be actual and not merely imminent.
4. Martial Law will only last for 60 days.
5. The President will submit a report to congress within 48 hours from the declaration of Martial Law.
6. The Congress may revoke the declaration of Martial law by a majority vote.
7. The Congress may extend the duration of the Martial Law.
8. Martial Law does not suspend the operation of the the Constitution or supplant the functioning of the civil courts or legislative assemblies
9. Martial Law does not automatically suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
Habeas Corpus is a recourse in law through which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court and request that the court order the custodian of the person, usually a prison official, to bring the prisoner to court to determine if the detention is lawful.
10. Anyone arrested or detained during the suspension must be charge within 3 days. Otherwise, he/she should be released.
11. The Supreme Court may review the factual sufficiency of the proclamation of martial Law and decide the case within 30 days from the time it was filed.
Hopefully, the declaration of a state of Martial Law in Mindanao will solve the problems the Philippines government is facing right now.
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