MANILA – On Tuesday, July 4, the Supreme Court voted, with one dissent, to uphold the constitutionality of President Duterte’s 60-day martial law proclamation in Mindanao.
Eleven associate justices favored Duterte’s imposition of martial law in the whole of Southern Philippines and said that Proclamation 216 was constitutional.
They are Presbitero J. Velasco; Teresita Leonardo-De Castro; Diosdado M. Peralta; Lucas P. Bersamin; Mariano C. del Castillo; Jose C. Mendoza; Bienvenido L. Reyes; Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe; Francis H. Jardeleza; Samuel R. Martires; and Noel G. Tijam.
Three other magistrates agreed with the President’s imposition of military rule but said that this should only cover Marawi. They are Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
Justice Marvic Leonen gave the lone dissenting opinion.
BELOW, FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT RULING: