The 15 justices voted 11-3-1 to uphold the constitutionality of Proclamation 216, which declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23. They issue fearful alarms that President Duterte might seize upon the SC decision to impose martial law on the entire country. They worried more about Marcos and martial law 1972, than about future emergencies that could face the nation. The Constitution provides further that a state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the Charter. Sooner or later, losing lawyers must listen to what the winning lawyers said in the oral arguments, which will explain why they are probably better lawyers.

Source: Manila Times July 05, 2017 16:30 UTC