Even as it is doubtful that the constitutional requirement has been met that the President, within 48 hours of martial law declaration, submit the martial law report “in person or in writing to the Congress” (SP Koko Pimentel and Speaker Bebot Alvarez attending the Cabinet meeting is not “the Congress” within the contemplation of the provision) , this official Malacañang photo documenting the President signing said report shows the President’s wristwatch, and the time in his wristwatch:
At the very least, it shows this group trifled with the requirements of the Constitution.
(image of the group picture, from Malacañang as tweeted by rapplerdotcom, after tweeting the earthquake of 10:27pm).
image below, the same photo magnified by blog admin then rotated to show the orientation of the wristwatch: Did the President beat the constitutional deadline? (i’m sorry but i’m disputing even the supposed time that it was signed and submitted: People should not trifle with the Constitution)
Has the President submitted “a report in person or in writing to the Congress”, as Art. VII. Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution puts it, about his declaration of martial law as of 10:00 pm today? If not, Proclamation Number 216 declaring martial law is now void, unconstitutional.
He is at present in a closed-door special cabinet meeting with Senate President Koko Pimentel and Speaker Bebot Alvarez in attendance.
Is his peroration there about martial law in the presence of SP Koko and Speaker Bebot considered the submission of “a report in person or in writing to the Congress” within the contemplation of Art. VII. Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution? No. Nopey. SP Koko and Speaker Bebot, no matter how much they weigh combined, is not the Congress contemplated by the Constitution when it required the submission of a report “to the Congress”. If his peroration was in the form of a report, in writing, submitted to SP Koko and Speaker Bebot during such Cabinet meeting, is that considered the submission of “a report in person or in writing to the Congress” within the contemplation of Art. VII. Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution? No, the two are in a Cabinet meeting and are not “the Congress” as contemplated in Art. VII. Section 18.
(that’s why last night, it was hinted here that Speaker Bebot might want to consider convening today in anticipation of the submission of the report by the President so they could take it up right away; but apparently, many of the Congressmen were and are out of town and could not be herded to Batasan on a trivial matter called the declaration of martial law. Alas, all of these non-compliance with the requirements of Art. VII. Section 18 render Proclamation 216 now void. The time to file the petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court is tomorrow at 8am. Time flies for the President when he’s bombing Marawi.
