Arroyo's allies in Congress throw support to Maguindanao martial law declaration
Sunday, December 06, 2009 04:49:00 PM

MANILA, Philippines - House Speaker Prospero Nograles has thrown his support to President Gloria Arroyo's martial law declaration in the southern Maguindanao province.

He said: "The President's declaration of Martial law in Maguindanao is beyond politics. It is to protect national interest."

Speaker Prospero C. Nograles made the statement following President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to put the province of Maguindanao under a state of martial law and prevent the spread of violence and vendetta to nearby areas.

"We strongly support the President's move. She did the right thing," Nograles said as he voiced his initiative to lead the House collective leadership in presenting, and ultimately passage, a House Resolution in support of the Martial law declaration.

Malacanang said the state of martial law will last for 30 days, a move that hints on the government’s intent to restore peace and order in the area within two months and ensure that justice is served the victims and their families.

"Many of my colleagues even believe that the declaration should have been made earlier," Nograles added. "It is, however, clear that the President made the right decision demanded by national good and by justice."

Congress will hold a joint session to act on the Constitutional process relative to the declaration of Martial law on Tuesday following the President's submission of Executive Order 1959, placing the province of Maguindanao under the state of martial law and effective within 60 days.

"This is a matter of extreme national concern which we must take up with urgency," Nograles said as he lamented statements of former members of the House branding the House of Representatives as a mere "rubber stamp" of the President.

The Speaker was alluding to Senator Noynoy Aquino's public discourse claiming that the House, from which he came from in the first place, is devoid of independence - a rubber stamp.

"The good senator was a former member of this chamber. How could he be so unfair," Nograles said, asking "why the ungentlemanly tirades." (Gil Bugaoisan)