Congress need not sit down immediately to discuss martial law proclamation--Alvarez Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said it is not necessary for Congress to immediately conduct a session to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation placing the entire island of Mindanao under martial law. Around 10:26 p.m. Wednesday night, the office of Alvarez received from Malacañang a copy of Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216, declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao.
Inilatag na House Speaker Propero Nograles ang mga mahahalagang panukalang tatalakayin sa pagbubukas ng 3rd regular Session ng pang-labing-apat na Kongreso habang ang mga mambabatas ay sabik na hinihintay ang state of the nation address ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo mamayang hapon na ayon sa kanya ay tutuon sa pagpapapasok ng pamumuhunan sa bansa, paglikha ng mga trabaho, social justice at human development at good governance.