MANILA: Philippine opposition lawmakers on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reject President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in the south of the country, branding it unconstitutional. However Duterte vowed five days after declaring martial law he would ignore the Supreme Court on the issue, and only listen to the police and military. The petition stated that Duterte’s reasons for declaring martial law were “mostly inaccurate, simulated, false and/or hyperbolic”. It highlighted one of Duterte’s statements to justify martial law that the militants had beheaded a local police chief. The constitution allows martial law to be imposed only in the event of invasion or rebellion.

Source: Manila Times June 05, 2017 04:52 UTC