Congress grants Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao

With 261 affirmative votes from both houses, Congress in a joint session on Saturday overwhelmingly approved President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao by five more months or until December 31, 2017.

The vote came hours before Duterte’s 60-day martial law proclamation lapsed on Saturday night.

The said proclamation was issued on May 23 following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City.

On the part of the Senate, the vote was 16 in favor and four against.

Those against were members of the minority bloc: Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Francis “Kiko”  Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Risa Hontiveros.

The vote in the House of Representatives was 245 for and 14 against.

Only 158 votes from both houses of Congress were needed to get a majority.

Senator Gringo Honasan, who moved for the approval of Duterte’s request on the part of the Senate, said the extension would solve the problem of terrorism in Mindanao “as fast and as far as the law will allow,” and help fast-track the “painful task” of rehabilitation and reconstruction of strife-torn Marawi City.

“Is martial law the solution? There are potentials for abuse but the mechanisms for prevention are within our control. Martial law in Mindanao involved both risks and opportunities and we can manage both,” Honasan said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon objected to the length of Duterte’s proposed extension, saying that the extension should be limited to only 60 days.

“Congress determines the period of extension. The Constitution is clear on that…We should not be remiss in that duty,” Drilon said.

Drilon’s motion lost.

Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas meanwhile sponsored Duterte’s request on the part of the House of Representatives.

ACT party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman objected.

“Aral ng kasaysayan na hindi military ang solution. Ang kailangan ng mga kababayan ay trabaho, hustisya sa Mindanao, hindi martial law,” Tinio argued.

Debate on period, coverage

Duterte’s request was approved in joint session by members of Congress after the debate on the period and coverage of the martial law declaration.

Some lawmakers said a five-month extension had no factual basis, as nearly 400 out of the 600 members of the Maute group have already been neutralized.

But Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Eduardo Año, who admitted recommending the extension until year end, said an extension is necessary to restrict the movement of the terrorist groups.

"We have this ongoing rebellion. In Marawi, ito lang ang napili nila. It could be other cities In Mindanao. If you will see, nagcontribute po ang Abu Sayyaf sa Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao at 'yung Maute, kaya umabot sila ng 666, pero ang totoong bilang po niyan ay 1,200 plus," he said.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the extension will help Duterte “finish the task” he started to bring peace in Mindanao. -NB, GMA News