Sotto: Martial law extension beyond 60 days hard to justify

Extending martial law in Mindanao beyond 60 days will be difficult to justify, a senator allied with the administration said Tuesday even as President Rodrigo askedCongress to extend the declaration up to the end of the year.

"The President said 60 days. Madali mag-extend. Mahihirapan kami sa explanation niyan kapag longer," Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said in a text message.

Sotto, along with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and House leaders, sat with Duterte on Monday night during dinner in Malacañang. Other majority bloc senators and congressmen were also present.

After the dinner, Sotto said it was Duterte who told him that he wants to extend martial law in Mindanao just for another 60 days. He has since amended that to the end of the year.

Asked if he will support a five-month extension, Sotto said he will decide based on the presentation of security officials in support of the recommendation scheduled on Wednesday.

Senator Grace Poe, in a separate text message, said she will also wait for the security briefing.

“Aside from their inputs, we also have constituents on the ground who will send their feedback. Only then will I be able to determine my position on the martial law extension,” Poe said.

Congress is set to convene in a special session on Saturday to discuss the martial law extension. The 60-day proclamation in Mindanao resulting from the attack of the pro-ISIS Maute group on Marawi City last May 23, will lapse on the same day. —KBK/KVD, GMA News