The Supreme Court (SC) is now holding Day 1 of the three-day oral arguments on President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation of martial law and the suspension of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.
The proceeding was supposed to start at 10 am on Tuesday but it encountered a delay after the justices held a meeting prior to the oral arguments.
The justices wanted to determine the scope of issues that the oral arguments will cover, based on the preliminary conference earlier held with the petitioners and the Office of the Solicitor General.
At 11 am, oppositors to Proclamation Number 216, which declared martial law, have begun to present their issues to the justices.
First in line is Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, who is leading a group of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives who had filed one of the complaints against the martial law.
Lagman has 30 minutes to present his points.
This will be followed by interpellations from the justices.
Solicitor General Jose Calida is present in the session hall, representing the Executive Branch.
The Supreme Court has 30 days to decide on the constitutionality of Proclamation 216.