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'It was academic, theoretical discussion': Panelo defends martial law remark on coronavirus

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/05/20191124-salvador-panelo-south-korea-mnib-3.jpg"/><figcaption>Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo holds a press conference at the Sunset Business Hotel in Busan, South Korea on Nov. 24, 2019. Handout/file photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – Following widespread criticism on social media, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Tuesday defended his remark that the COVID-19 pandemic could be grounds for declaration of martial law in the country.Panelo said his remark was “more of an academic and theoretical discussion, and were not meant to express the official position of the government on the matter.”“Those were intended for those trained in the law, as well as law students and legal scholars, to explore the ever-changing state of affairs vis-à-vis the dynamics of our Constitution, especially now as we battle a global pandemic,” he said in a statement.Panelo also said Philippine laws “are replete with provisions that have been subjected to numerous debates on their interpretation only to reveal later, based on our jurisprudential history, that the views that went against the grain actually reflected the true spirit of the law.”“Indeed, it is only the Supreme Court which is constitutionally tasked to finally interpret our laws, and our obligation as lawyers is merely to raise our respective theories before it. And as there are as many opinions as there are lawyers, theories abound, and it behooves every legal mind to scrutinize it,” he said.The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has slammed Panelo’s remark as “unbelievable.”“Legally untenable, constitutionally preposterous and factually absurd, yet an extremely perilous fable,” the group said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/20/in-justifying-probable-martial-law-panelo-says-covid-19-can-be-considered-an-invasion">In justifying possible martial law, Panelo says COVID-19 can be considered an &#x27;invasion&#x27;</a></li></ul>During his commentary program on a state-run television network, Panelo said the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the whole country and claimed there was an &quot;actual invasion&quot; happening. &quot;May bago nang international meaning ang invasion... It can mean the entry of a disease and the transfer from one area to another,&quot; he claimed.&quot;Ano bang meron ngayon (What do we have now)? There is an actual invasion of the coronavirus disease which is pandemic,&quot; he said.While the Constitution requires a rebellion or an invasion as a basis for declaring martial law, Panelo said the charter also states that public safety could require an extraordinary measure.The coronavirus pandemic falls into the classification of a threat to public safety, he said.&quot;It threatens in fact the entire country yung lahat ng mga kababayan natin so may actual na invasion,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/20/coronavirus-invasion-martial-law-only-for-actions-by-humans-not-viruses-doj-chief">Coronavirus invasion? Martial law only for actions by humans, not viruses: DOJ chief</a></li></ul><div> </div>

Panelo said his remark was “more of an academic and theoretical discussion, and were not meant to express the official position of the government on the matter.”

Panelo said his remark was “more of an academic and theoretical discussion, and were not meant to express the official position of the government on the matter.”