The “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP”, a public event hosted by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) and held at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City on July 17, 2018, featured a lively discussion on “Reviewing Judicial Independence” with Hon. Mario Victor “Marvic” F. Leonen, associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines, as resource speaker.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo, guest speaker at the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) “Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP”, explained the reasons for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. Panelo said Duterte’s martial law aimed to crush terrorist and drug groups and networks. He also shared his thoughts on establishing a “constitutional dictatorship”, wherein, to address the problems of the state, dictatorial powers were to be exercised by the president, yet these powers would be limited by the constitution. The Kapihan was held on July 18 at the UPAA Board Room of Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City.