Supreme Court upheld yesterday the constitutionality of Presidential Proclamation 1017 by which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a weeklong state of emergency last February. In an 11-3 vote, however, the high court also ruled that raids conducted and arrests made during the weeklong period from Feb. 24 to March 3 were illegal.Malacañang hailed the decision, saying it "affirmed the government's right to protect itself" against those conspiring to oust the administration, but said that the solicitor general would still review the ruling to determine if an appeal would be necessary. "In a way we are glad that, at least, the SC (Supreme Court) decision affirmed the government's inherent right to protect itself, and the president's power under the constitution to call out the armed forces as its commander-in-chief to prevent or suppress lawless violence," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.
