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MANILA - President Arroyo on Sunday evening sent her written report to Congress on her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao last Friday as required by the Philippine Constitution.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde confirmed the presidential action in a text message to media.

“In compliance with the Constitution, the President has submitted her report to Congress. She personally rendered the report to congressional leaders starting at 8:30 p.m.,” said Remonde.

Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution requires the president, within 48 hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, to submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress.

The press secretary told ANC’s The World Tonight that the 20-page report signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita was received by the secretary-general of the lower House before 8:58 p.m., and the secretary-general of the Senate at 9:11 p.m. Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak reported early Friday evening that President Arroyo had ordered a state of martial law in Maguindanao, which would take effect on Saturday.

When asked if it was proper that the report was given several minutes after the 48-hour period lapsed, Remonde said: “Well, I suppose they can make allowance for 11-minute discrepancy.” The declaration was signed 9 p.m. December 4 but formally announced early Saturday morning.

Remonde said the report contains the justification of the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao.

Remonde also said the report would “satisfy all questions, all doubts about the necessity of declaring martial law.”

Meanwhile, House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. also said that he arrived at Malacañang to get the report from President Arroyo on Proclamation No. 1959 which declared martial law in Maguindanao province.

“Existence of armed political uprising”

President’s Arroyo’s report to Congress, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News, pointed to the “existence of armed public uprising” as the basis for the martial rule declaration and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao. (Read: Full text of President Arroyo's report to Congress)

The report provided a short narration of the events of the massacre in Ampatuan town including pictures and descriptions of the bodies recovered, apparently from autopsy reports.

It also cited the initial steps taken by authorities including the declaration of a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.

The report said that the arrest of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. “would have resulted in the expeditious apprehension and prosecution of all others involved in the gruesome massacre.” The report said, however, that the “situation proved contrary.”

Ampatuan Jr. has been tagged as the leader of the 100 armed men who stopped a convoy of a rival political clan. The 57 bodies of members of the Mangudadatu clan, as well as that of lawyers and journalists who accompanied them in the convoy for a supposed filing of a certificate of candidacy in Shariff Aguak town, were later found by soldiers.

“The Ampatuan group backed by formidable group of armed followers, have since used their strength and political position to deprive the Chief Executive of her power to enforce the law and to maintain public order and safety,” said the report to Congress.

The report said that the Ampatuans were “behind the closing down of government offices, the refusal of local officials to discharge their functions and the simultaneous absence or non-appearance of judges in local courts.” It said that it came from “duly verified information.”

“Group of rebels”

In the report, the Ampatuans were described to have “consolidated a group of rebels consisting of 2,413 heavily armed men, with 1,160 of then having been strategically deployed in Mindanao.”

Detailed descriptions were given of 8 armed groups ranging from 50 to 500 strong, most of which were described as having been “moved to offensive positions.”

The groups were reported to be armed with 2 “Sanguko” armored vehicles, light machine guns, recoilless rifles or bazookas and mortars among others.

The “rebels” are reportedly concentrated in 16 towns of Maguindanao which, the report said, are apparently the political stronghold of the Ampatuans.

One group was described to be led by a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front.

The president’s report to Congress also cited that the recovery of firearms from 400 security escorts of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and the recent discoveries of large caches of firearms and ammunitions highlighted the “existence of this armed rebellion.”

The report said that while the “ongoing rebellion” is being addressed by “conducting legitimate operations” it said that “public safety still requires the continued implementation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the Province of Maguindanao … until that such rebellion is completely quelled.”

“Right thing”

Remonde said he hoped that Congress would receive the report positively.

“The president did the right thing in this particular issue. We just hope that Congress would do the right thing too,” said Remonde.

Congress, voting jointly and by a vote of at least a majority of all its members, may revoke the martial law proclamation or suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus.

The Constitution says that a revocation by Congress “shall not be set aside by the President.”

Showdown

This early, however, a showdown between allies and critics of President Arroyo looms during the joint session of Congress scheduledon Tuesday.

Both sides are already preparing resolution for and against the measure.

On Monday, members of both chambers are expected to conduct separate caucuses to prepare for the joint session on Tuesday afternoon.

They are expected to scrutinize the President's written basis for her proclamation.