Joint session hears martial law report

By BEN R. ROSARIO

Despite a bid by congressional leaders to evade debates, the joint session of Congress started off yesterday with arguments initiated by lawmakers who questioned the nonappearance of government officials, including that of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Senators Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon assailed no-shows on the part of Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, who were out of the country when the joint session started at exactly 4:10 p.m. yesterday.

Meanwhile, Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, a relative of the Ampatuans, debated heatedly with Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin in connection with the former’s demand for Arroyo’s presence before the joint session that was convened to allow Congress to review the declaration of martial law over Maguindanao province.

A total of 18 senators and 192 congressmen responded to the roll call, thus, indicating a quorum.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles called the resource persons shortly after the rules were adopted by the body, but Ibrado and Gonzales were conspicuously not in attendance.

Present during yesterday’s joint session were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

The rules state that the presence of Ibrado and Gonzales is mandatory.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said Ibrado was due to arrive from China by 4 p.m. yesterday.

On the other hand, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Gonzales had also requested to be excused because he was still in Singapore to confer with Ambassador Rafael Seguis in connection with the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Gordon and Roxas slammed the non-appearance as a demonstration of discourtesy towards Congress which is a co-equal branch of the government.

“I’m dismayed na parang binabalewala ang Kongreso at mahina ang rason kung bakit dapat ipagpatuloy ang martial law,” Gordon declared.

On the other hand, congressmen ignored efforts of Congress leaders to swiftly reach a decision on the martial law declaration when they engaged in a debate over the non-appearance of Arroyo.

The rules give each chamber a maximum of 10 hours to grill the resource persons invited and 10 minutes each for the proponent and the oppositor of a motion to revoke Proclamation 1959.

Dilangalen, who earlier filed a Supreme Court petition seeking revocation of Presidential Proclamation 1959 which proclaimed martial law in Maguindanao, chided Arroyo for having
“no courtesy at all of reporting to us in person.”

“Only Congressman (Simeon) Datumanong and I could really experience what it is to be representing an area in this country that is affected by martial law. The President may not consider this (joint session) as very important to her,” said Dilangalen.

Apparently irked over Dilangalen’s remarks, Locsin rose to criticize the Maguindanao lawmaker for “forum shopping” since he already had asked the High Court to revoke the martial law proclamation.

“He (Dilangalen) does not believe he has a chance to get it (revocation) from the Supreme Court. This is forum shopping, since this is Christmas, I suggest he should go shopping in SM,” Locsin said.

Angered by Locsin’s remarks, Dilangalen demanded that Locsin be declared out of order.

The exchange prompted both Enrile and Nograles to declare a recess that lasted over 30 minutes. Session resumed at 5:46 p.m. with Locsin apologizing to Dilangalen and the PNP presenting its report about the Maguindanao situation.

The joint session of Congress was still ongoing as of press time last night.