Escudero says no need for joint session on martial law

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday said Congress does not need to convene a joint session to discuss the martial law declaration in Mindanao if no one has the intent to revoke it.

"Hindi kailangan mag-convene ng Kongreso automatically kapag walang nagnanais na kahit isang miyembro na mag-revoke. Kasi anong pag-uusapan namin? Kung magco-convene kami, wala namang may gusto mag-revoke," Escudero said in an interview on GMA News' "Hirit ni Mareng Winnie."

"Pero oras na may isang miyembro, isa lang, one out of 297 congressmen, one out of 23 senators, ang tanging pamaraan na pagbotohan 'yung pagnanais niyang 'yon ay sa pamamagitan ng joint session," he added.

The senators were briefed on Monday afternoon by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on President Rodrigo Duterte's martial law declaration in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Escudero refused to comment on the briefing as it was an executive session.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 following clashes between government forces and the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President may declare martial law in any part of the country for a period of 60 days.

Both houses of Congress, voting jointly, may revoke or extend the proclamation while the Supreme Court may invalidate the martial law declaration within 30 days after a petition is filed.

Leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have thumbed down the joint session on Duterte’s martial law report.

However, the Senate minority bloc on Monday filed a resolution to convene Congress in a joint session and review Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Senate Resolution No. 350 was signed by Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, and Antonio Trillanes IV.

The resolution said the joint session was necessary to determine the “constitutional and factual validity” of Proclamation No. 216 declaring martial law in Mindanao following the attacks of the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City.

Escudero, for his part, said that even though the minority bloc has filed a resolution, they did not show intent to revoke the proclamation.

"Ang papel na ginagampanan ng oposisyon, ng minoriya sa Kamara, role playing naman 'yan palagi. Meaning, minsan magku-question ka just for the sake of questioning because that's the role you have to play in the system of checks and balances," he said.

"...Nag-file ng resolusyon ang mga miyembro ng minoriya sa Senado. Sabi nila kailangang mag-convene in joint session. Pero hindi nila sinabing dapat i-revoke ito," he added. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News