Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party List Representative Joel Villanueva believes that the palace can no longer defend the state of martial law in Maguindanao which forced them to lift the declaration even before the joint session of Congress could decide if it would approve or revoke it.

“Malacañang knows that it can no longer defend its haphazard and whimsical declaration thus the lifting of martial law. Mrs. Arroyo also cannot afford to face the international community especially in Copenhagen with martial law still in force. Congress might have to terminate its proceedings but the Supreme Court should determine the validity of the factual basis of the declaration to ensure that the unconstitutional declaration does not become a precedent.”