Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has scored government for engaging in legal shortcuts and faulty arguments to justify the imposition of martial law and even the implementation of the controversial Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) project by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Pimentel said the Arroyo government used "looming" rebellion to justify the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao, and added the argument for it by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera was largely fictitious.

Speaking in Saturday's Kapihan sa Sulo, Pimentel said Devanadera's stay at the Department of Justice (DoJ) itself is questionable since she was appointed to her position while Congress was in session and needs confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Hers is not a case of a nomination made when Congress is not in session and she must secure the nod of the CA before she can function as a Cabinet member.

On the issue of RFID, he said he has asked his lawyers to prepare the filing of a graft suit against the proponents of the project led by LTO chief Arturo Lomibao.

Pimentel said the collection of R350 per vehicle for RFID constitutes illegal exaction.