No joint session in Congress for Duterte’s martial law report – Fariñas

The Senate and House of Representatives will not be convening for a joint session on President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao, with Malacañang expected to send a written explanation on the matter.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas announced this on Wednesday night, nearly a day after Duterte placed the region under martial law, while he was in Russia on an official trip.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President has 48 hours to report, in person or in writing, about such proclamation. 

Fariñas said Malacañang has informed House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that they “will send their report to Congress in writing.”

He explained that the House and the Senate only need to convene if the submission is made by the President to Congress himself.

“Thusly, there will be no need for us to convene tomorrow or Friday,” Fariñas told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Fariñas advised lawmakers to “stay put in Manila,” as Congress awaits the report. He noted that under House rules, sessions are until Friday.

More than an hour after this, however, the majority leader released another statement, saying that House members are allowed to go to their respective districts, “if such is safe, in order to help calm our people.”

He cited the decision of Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema, representative of the first district of Maguindanao, to go to her district.

“We may meet at any time, of course, if necessary since we are, in fact, in session,” Fariñas said.

Plenary sessions are customarily held from Monday to Wednesday at 4 p.m. While offices are still open on Thursdays, lawmakers use this day to start their weekly district rounds.

House rules, however, provide that daily sessions include Friday mornings.

No need to concur

Fariñas also noted that the legislative branch “does not need to concur” with Duterte’s proclamation.

Under the Constitution, Congress, in a joint vote by “at least a majority of all its members, … may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President.”

“Either House may express support if it so desires,” Fariñas explained.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Duterte’s top ally at the lower chamber, has expressed his support for the declaration, saying it was within his mandate to do so.

Several members of the House, however, have declared opposition against it, among them Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, whose impeachment complaint against the President was recently junked by the House justice committee.

Also against the proclamation are members of the militant Makabayan bloc, who said that declaring martial law in Mindanao does not solve the crisis.

In line with such statements, Fariñas called on his colleagues to “hold judgment until (they) hear” the reasons for the proclamation.

The Mindanao bloc of the lower chamber met to discuss the matter on Wednesday afternoon, led by the Speaker, who represents the first district of Davao del Norte.

Sema, one of the deputy speakers for Mindanao, said there was a seeming consensus to be “supportive of the decision of the President to put peace and order back” in the region.

Asked if she was in favor of Duterte’s proclamation for the whole Mindanao, Sema said: “If it takes that to resolve the conflict, then yes.”

She expressed confidence in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, whose chief, Gen. Eduardo Año, has been named “martial law administrator” by Duterte.

She added that it is easier to expose abuses via social media.

Other lawmakers in the bloc declined to talk to House reporters after the meeting, saying the Speaker is the one tasked to speak for the group. — RSJ, GMA News