Arroyo submits report to Congress

Arroyo Cabinet

At around 8:30 last night, December 5, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, on behalf of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo, submitted a 21 page report to Congress, officially beating the supposed “deadline” for submitting a report to Congress on the supposed causes of declaring Martial rule in Maguindanao.

The report, which was supposedly written by Ermita with the help of Justice secretary Agnes Devenadera and DILG secretary Ronnie Puno was a chronological narration of what happened in Maguindanao since the day the massacre in Shariff Aguak happened to the day when supposed armed supporters of the Ampatuans reportedly massed up to prevent the government from arresting any member of the Ampatuan clan.

The report said that there was a threat of rebellion coming from the Ampatuans. The rebellion aims to prevent duly constituted authorities from enforcing the law.

Tomorrow, December 7, Congress will have to convene a joint session to debate on the merits of Proclamation 1959. Their aim, says Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile, is to determine whether or not there is factual basis on the declaration.

This early, the Lower House is expected to vote for the Proclamation while the Senate is again, expected to take a contrary stand. What would possibly happen is that Congress would assume a rubber stamp position and grant the full implementation of the Proclamation (60 days) without extension.

This early, however, the AFP, speaking thru Major General Gaudencio Pangilinan, AFP Vice Chief of Staff, recommend that the martial law be extended up to the May 2010 polls. Pangilinan boasts of “teaching civilians how to have a clean and honest polls”. 

Today, a lawyer’s group will file a Petition before the Supreme Court, questioning the legality of Proclamation 1959.