The political opposition in the 23-member Senate opposed Saturday the decision of President Arroyo placing troubled Maguindanao under martial law, saying it is an “overkill” or “legally defective.”

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., a human rights advocate and a victim of the Marcos martial law regime in the 70s, appeared to be the lone voice in the opposition who favors the President’s decision.

The Senate, along with the House of Representatives, can either reject or concur with the President’s martial law declaration within 48 hours after its issuance through a simple majority in joint session. Both legislative chambers meet in regular session tomorrow.

The Senate plenary session would be presided over by pro-administration Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a former president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) and one of the supporters of the Marcos martial law regime.

The most scathing statement against President Arroyo’s martial law declaration came from opposition Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo ‘’Jamby’’ Madrigal, one of the four senators seeking the presidency through the May 2010 election.

“The declaration of martial law proves how incompetent the Arroyo administration is to handle the situation in Mindanao. Is this the way to punish her political lackeys by further terrorizing the people? Why only now and not immediately after the murders. She could arrest the Ampatuans (father and son) without declaring martial law,” she said.

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar said the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao was unnecessary and only hints of weak leadership and the inability of government to quell lawlessness in this part of the country.

“It is unfortunate that the declaration of martial law has been resorted to after the government appeared reluctant to go all-out against those responsible for the Maguindanao massacre. The state of emergency should have already been enough to dismantle the private armies operating in the province. We don’t even need to declare martial law in Maguindanao; we only have to enforce existing laws,” Villar said, even as he expressed confidence on the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to restore law and order in the area.