Congress holds joint session on martial law extension in Mindanao

THE House of Representatives and the Senate convened on Wednesday for a joint session to deliberate on the Duterte  administration’s requet to extend martial law in Mindanao for a third time.

With 14 senators and 162 lawmakers at the plenary hall, the session was called to order by Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Also present were Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde, new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Benjamin Madrigal Jr., and Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon.

The deliberation comes after Duterte sent letters to Arroyo and Sotto to grant his request to extend martial law until December 31, 2019, citing the need to “put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country.”

“We cannot afford to give the rebels any further breathing room to regroup and strengthen their forces,” a portion of the letter dated December 6 read.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President can declare martial law in case of “invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.”

A joint vote of at least majority of Congress may approve the extension of martial law “if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.

In a Joint Session in December 2017, senators and House members granted Duterte’s request to extend the martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao until December 2018.