Congress to decide on Mindanao martial law extension

History will be made on Saturday as the Senate and the House of Representatives will convene in a special session to discuss and decide on the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself had asked Congress to approve the extension, which would keep the entire island group under martial rule for another five months — until December 31 of this year.

The president, in Proclamation No. 216 on May 23, placed the entire of Mindanao under martial law after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City.

The declaration was effective for 60 days or until Saturday, July 22, the same day Congress will convene to discuss the extension.

According to Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution, “Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session” may revoke the president’s martial law proclamation or suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

The Constitution adds that “Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, may extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

Congress was supposed to be on a sine die break and was to resume session on Monday, July 24, before Duterte's second State of the Nation Address. A special session was thus called for the discussion on the martial law extension.

A total of 314 legislators are expected to participate and vote on the matter: 22 from the Senate and 291 from the House of Representatives.

While the Senate currently has 23 members, only 22 will vote during the joint session as Senator Leila De Lima is presently detained on drug charges.

For the extension to pass, at least 158 lawmakers, or 50 percent plus one of their total number, would have to vote for it.

But even before Duterte made his request, the proposed extension was already eliciting mixed reactions from legislators.

Several senators, though supportive of the proposal, were nevertheless unconvinced that martial law needed to extended a full five months.

Members of the House of Representatives were similarly hesitant, despite the proposal having the backing of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas, and Minority Leader Danilo Suarez.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Alvarez, as leaders of both houses of Congress, will preside over the special session.

The legislators have until 10 p.m. on Saturday to finalize their decision before the time limit on the martial law proclamation runs out. — DVM, GMA News