Senate minority bloc calls for joint session on Mindanao martial law

The Senate minority bloc on Monday filed a resolution to convene Congress in joint session and review President Rodrigo 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.

“It is incumbent upon the Senate and the House of Representatives to conduct a joint session for the purpose of determining the constitutional and factual validity of the proclamation, of preventing abuses in its implementation, and ensuring the safety of the people of Marawi and the whole of Mindanao,” the bloc said.

The opposition group cited a Supreme Court (SC) decision in 2012, which says that the President and Congress “act in tandem” in exercising the power to proclaim martial law or suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III earlier said it will be “useless” to convene Congress in a joint session if there is no intention to revoke the martial law declaration.

Article VII, Section 18 of the Constitution states Congress may revoke the proclamation “voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its members in regular or special session.”

In an interview, Pimentel said the resolution filed by the minority bloc will undergo the usual reference of business.

“I don’t think we will talk about joint session [today]. We can talk about the report, inputs ng DND, questions. It will eat a lot of time already,” Pimentel told reporters before the senators went in closed-door executive session with security officials to discuss the martial law declaration.

The Senate has only two days before it adjourns session sine die on Wednesday. — RSJ, GMA News