WATCH: Hontiveros says Marawi siege is not a rebellion nor invasion

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the recent attack perpetrated by the Maute group in Marawi city is not considered as rebellion nor invasion under the constitution.

In an interview with "UNTV’s Get It Straight with Daniel Razon”, Hontiveros explained the meaning of rebellion that can be grounds for declaring Martial Law.

“Ang Rebellion ay may section ng local government o populasyon ng Pilipinas na titiwalag sa pambansang gobyerno sasabihin halimbawa ng Marawi City government o ng mga Marawi citizens na ayaw na namin sa republika at kami ay hihiwalay na, pero that was not the case eh,” Hontiveros said.

When the lady senator was asked by Razon if the Marawi siege cannot be considered rebellion even the terror group raised the black flag of Islamic State in the southern part of the country, the lady senator responded:

“Strictly speaking, hindi yan rebellion ng Marawi, at ng Marawi residents. In fact, kapag tinanong mo yung ibang mamamayan sa Marawi ayaw nila sa Maute hindi sila yung nag re-rebel against the national government. Tapos hindi siya invasion kasi hindi naman tulad sa Zamboanga City noon na may siege talaga,” she said.

When asked about the definition of invasion, she answered: "Yun yung armadong pwersa mula sa labas ay papasok sa isang lugar na may intensiyong sakupin siya, kontrolin siya at gumawa ng karasahan."

Razon, for his part, said: "So kung hindi taga Marawi itong mga nag invade doon ay nandodoon ngayon at nakikipaglaban at para sabihing hindi ito rebellion ibig sabihin hindi sila taga Marawi. Pumasok sila na may armas sila, at parang gusto nilang sakupin ang Marawi. So that's invasion."

But the lady senator insisted why Maute group’s action can’t be classified as rebellion nor invasion under the Constitution.

"Hindi po, strictly speaking not according to the definition of the constitution, but definitely target ng military action. Kasi walang pwedeng pumugad diyan na mga grupo, na may armas, na may intensyong gumawa ng karahasan, ng terror action na ginawa nila na hindi reresponde ang ating Armed Forces at PNP, kasi talagang ayan nagsimula sila ng isang malaking gulo na hanggang ngayon ay pinagdudusahan ng mga kababayan natin," she added.

Watch the interview here: