Congress gathered in a special joint session to decide on the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.
Photo from AP
Congress yesterday voted to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2017.
This was the result of the joint special session held in the House of Representatives, where both the lower House and the Senate convened and tackled the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the martial law in Mindanao.
According to the 1987 Constitution, Congress should vote jointly in a special session to determine the period of extension of martial law, but only upon the initiative of the President.
At least 16 of the 20 senators present, while 245 of the 291 House members, voted to approve Resolution of Both Houses 10, which called for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus until the end of the year.
Meanwhile, four senators voted against the resolution, while 14 House members also voted against it. No lawmakers abstained during the voting.
All in all, 261 members of the Congress (both House and Senate) overwhelmingly voted to extend the Mindanao martial law, while only 18 voted against it.
“The result of the voting in Congress show that 261 in the affirmative and 18 in the negative. The motion to extend proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus is hereby approved by the Congress,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said, reading the tally, before banging the gavel.
House leaders were open to convening Congress to tackle the extension of martial law, although they earlier rejected calls to convene both chambers to deliberate on the report of the President when he first imposed martial rule in Mindanao.
Instead of convening to tackle the martial law when it was initially declared, Congress instead passed a resolution finding no reason to revoke the President’s proclamation.
Palace thanks Congress
“We thank Congress for approving the extension of martial law until December 31, 2017,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement Saturday, shortly after the Senate and House of Representatives convened in a special joint session on Saturday to tackle the request of President Rodrigo Duterte for martial law extension.
“The nation has chosen to stand united in defending the Republic,” Abella said.
“The extension of martial law is essential to the overall peace and stability,” he added.
“The rebellion in Marawi continues to persist and we want to stop the spread of the evil ideology of terrorism and free the people of Mindanao from the tyranny of lawlessness and violent extremism.”
He urged lawmakers and the public to “get on with the job of nation-building and contribute in the attainment of the full promise of Mindanao.”
“There is much work to be done to bring back public safety and law and order in the whole island of Mindanao,” he said.
“There is much work to be done in the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi.”
“Together, let us transform Mindanao into a land of fulfillment,” he added. /INQUIRER.NET