Soldiers onboard military trucks ride along the main street as government troops continue their assault on insurgents from the Maute group, who have taken over large parts of Marawi City, Philippines, on June 2, 2017. Source: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

PHILIPPINE lawmakers on Saturday voted to extend martial law on the southern island of Mindanao until the end of the year, giving President Rodrigo Duterte extra time to quell a rebellion by militants allied with the Islamic State group.

A total of 261 legislators agreed to extend military rule in a seven hour-long joint special session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, accounting for more than two-thirds of Congress membership of more than 300.

The overwhelming vote supporting the extension of martial law was not surprising, with Duterte counting a majority of lawmakers and senators as his allies.

Duterte had declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 after government troops clashed with homegrown terrorists from the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group in Marawi City.

SEE ALSO: Philippines: Congress to vote today on Mindanao martial law extension



According to Rappler, the 1987 Constitution only allows the President to declare martial law for a maximum of 60 days or until July 22 in this case. Any extension requires approval from both houses of Congress.

As the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police have so far failed to neutralise the rebels, Duterte wrote a letter to Congress asking for an extension until the end of the year, citing the “evolving” urban warfare that is making it difficult for the military and the police to end the fighting in Marawi.

The motion has proven to be controversial, with protesters disrupting the joint session of Congress with chants of “Never again to martial law.”

According to Inquirer.Net, the group were members of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP).

“The NUSP condemns the proposal of Malacañang to extend Martial Law in Mindanao until the end of the year, December 31. The request for extension is only an admission by the government that nothing has been achieved to solve the Marawi crisis in the 60-day span of the Martial Law,” said Mark Vincent Lim, NUSP National Spokesperson in a statement.

“This impending extension will continue to legitimize militarisation and US military presence in Mindanao. It has done nothing but bring about the displacement, disappearances, rape, killings and other human rights violations to our Lumad and Moro brothers and sisters.” </s> Watch the special session of both branches of Congress live

Bookmark to watch live on Rappler on Saturday at 9:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – As the martial law declaration on Mindanao expires on Saturday, July 22, President Rodrigo Duterte asks both branches of Congress to extend martial law until December 31.

In his letter sent to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Duterte pointed to the "newly evolving" urban warfare tactics employed by homegrown terrorists in Marawi City as the reason government troops will not be able to neutralize the rebels by Saturday, July 22.

Duterte officially sent his letter to Congress on Tuesday, July 18.

The President declared martial law in Mindanao after the military clashed with members of the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group starting on May 23.

The 1987 Constitution allows the President to declare martial law for a maximum period of 60 days. Any extension requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, which will be holding a special session to discuss Duterte's request. – Rappler.com </s> Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) — Martial law stays in Mindanao until the end of the year.

The Senate and House of Representatives on Saturday granted President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend military rule in the south until December 31, 2017. Proclamation 216, which declared martial law in Mindanao, expires at 10 p.m. on July 22.

A total of 261 lawmakers voted in favor and 18 were against.

A majority vote of the two chambers voting jointly, or at least 158 of the 314 members of Congress, was needed to pass the motion.

A total of 279 lawmakers, or 20 senators and 259 congressmen, were present at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Senator Leila de Lima was unable to attend as she is detained at Camp Crame for drug charges.

Aside from declaring martial law in Mindanao, Proclamation 216 suspended the writ of habeas corpus. The proclamation was issued on May 23 when the ISIS-inspired Maute group stormed Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur.

In his letter to Senate President Koko Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez dated July 18, Duterte said government needs five more months to quell the rebellion in Mindanao.

Also read: Duterte wants to extend martial law until end of 2017

On July 21, Duterte said the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police recommended the five-month extension to cover the rehabilitation period for war-torn Marawi and prevent the possible retaliation of terrorist sympathizers.

"No, sa kanila yan (No, it's theirs) ... The contamination of the ideology na nakita nilang patay, might spur others just to do the same," Duterte said.

This is the first time Congress voted to extend a martial law proclamation.

Aside from the 14-year martial law declared by late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1972, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also declared martial law in Maguindanao in December 2009 following the Maguindanao Massacre, which killed 57 people, including media practitioners.

Arroyo's martial law only lasted eight days. She lifted it even before Congress could review her proclamation.

Palace: Martial law extension essential to peace

Meanwhile, Malacañang released a statement following the joint session Saturday, saying now that the debate on the extension is over, the country must refocus its attention to make sure peace and order is maintained in Mindanao.

"The extension of martial law is essential to the overall peace and stability. The rebellion in Marawi continues to persist and we want to stop the spread of the evil ideology of terrorism and free the people of Mindanao from the tyranny of lawlessness and violent extremism," Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

"There is much work to be done in the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi," he added.

Drilon: No evidence to support Mindanao martial law extension to Dec. 31

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon gave an explanation on why he voted against the extension of martial law until the end of 2017.

He said there was "no evidence of actual rebellion outside of Marawi City," and the declaration of martial law for a period longer than his proposed 60 days would mean they have failed to do their duty as lawmakers under the Constitution.

Drilon said, under the Constitution martial law can be declared only if "actual rebellion exists," and Congress may extend its duration if it is necessary.

He said, "The factual basis for a continued martial rule in Mindanao and an extension of up do December 31, 2017 do not meet the requirements of the Constitution."

Drilon said the President mentioned only 10 out of 27 provinces in Mindanao that are under threat, so it follows that martial law should be extended only in these areas "where actual rebellion exists."

Drilon also questioned the reason behind the extension when Duterte and security officials mentioned "significant progress" against rebels. </s> The Philippine Congress on Saturday voted to extend President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in the south until the end of the year to defeat Islamist gunmen.

In a special joint session of the House and the Senate, legislators overwhelmingly backed Duterte's bid to have martial law remain in force in the Mindanao region until December 31.

The vote came as troops continued their two-month long fight to wrest back the southern city of Marawi from Islamic State-inspired militants.

Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella thanked Congress for its vote, saying "the nation has chosen to stand united in defending the Republic".

"The extension of martial law is essential to the overall peace and stability," he said in a statement.

Although opposition legislators questioned government officials for hours on the legality of the move, the vote was largely a foregone conclusion as Duterte enjoys majorities in both houses of Congress.

"We may wake up one day and martial law will be in force in the whole country," Senator Franklin Drilon said after the vote.

A slide presentation accompanying Duterte's request, seen by AFP, compared the Marawi crisis to the Islamic State takeover of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Marawi itself could now become a magnet for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, it said.

Most of the militants' leaders remain at large, the presentation added, while about 90 of the gunmen have slipped past security cordons and can link up with other armed groups in the region to mount similar widescale attacks.

At the hearing, defence and security officials justified the extended martial law, saying that aside from Marawi, Islamist militants were planning attacks in other parts of Mindanao.

In Marawi, the military said only about 60 gunmen were left in a 49-hectare (121-acre) area of Marawi, but Duterte said he needed martial law powers to rebuild the city and ensure the war did not spread elsewhere.

"I cannot afford to be complacent," Duterte told reporters Friday, adding the military would be conducting further "mopping up operations" even after they recapture Marawi.

"If there is a spillage it will not be as bad if you have this stopgap," he added.

Duterte imposed 60-day martial rule -- the maximum period allowed by the constitution -- over the Mindanao region on May 23 within hours of the gunmen beginning their rampage.

On Monday he asked Congress to extend it until the end of the year, along with the continued suspension of a constitutional safeguard against warrantless arrests.

Martial law allows the military to establish control with measures such as curfews, checkpoints and gun controls in a country where civilians are authorised to keep licensed firearms in their homes.

However, any martial law extension must be approved by Congress.

The subject remains sensitive in the Philippines, decades after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos put the country under military rule for part of his 20-year term.

Thousands of critics, political opponents as well as communist guerrillas were killed, detained or arrested during the period, according to historians.

About a dozen protesters in the gallery interrupted Saturday's hearing, chanting "never again, never again to martial law" before being escorted out.

In Marawi, the area's military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera assured the public that martial law would not be abused.

"Don't be afraid. Your soldiers are professionals. All our actions are based on the rule of law. We will respect the rights of our countrymen," he said.

Herrera said five soldiers had been killed in fighting on Saturday alone, bringing the total of slain troops to 105 with 428 militants killed.

Duterte had already beaten back a Supreme Court petition to declare martial law in Mindanao illegal.

"Once he feels that there is not enough opposition to a nationwide martial law declaration, he will go for it," in a bid to stay in office after his six-year term ends, Senator Antonio Trillanes told AFP on Tuesday.

Duterte, 72, insists he has no plan to stay in office beyond his term. </s> Martial law in Mindanao might last for the rest of the year as President Duterte has appealed to lawmakers to allow the extension of military rule on the island until December 31.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said the President wrote a letter to Congress asking for almost a half-a-year extension of Proclamation 216, which imposes martial law and suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. The executive proclamation is due to expire on Saturday, or 60 days after it was issued on May 23.

Under Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution, the President is given the power to declare martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of not more than 60 days.

In his letter to Congress, Duterte said his motion to extend martial law is upon his individual review of the conflict in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, and other parts of Mindanao. Abella said the possible martial-law extension is intended to “deal with local terrorist groups and anything that threatens public safety in Mindanao”.

“The primary objective of the possible extension is to allow our forces to continue with their operation and to focus more on the liberation of Marawi City and its rehabilitation and rebuilding,” Abella said.

In a text message to the BusinessMirror, Mindanao Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Romeo M. Montenegro said he is certain the President assessed the situation well before making such appeal to Congress.

“The President has certainly considered key elements in calling for the extension, noting the need to completely quell rebellion in parts of Mindanao,” Montenegro said.

Business is as usual in Mindanao, he added, in spite of the declaration of martial law in the whole of the island and extremist threats in Marawi City.

“The overall business mood for the rest of Mindanao had remained normal notwithstanding, except perhaps for some sectors, as heightened security weighed in on travel movements,” Montenegro said.

Lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to justify the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.

While they support the extension of martial law, Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Party-list Rep. Harry Roque of Kabayan and Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. of Ako Bicol said there’s still a need for the AFP and the PNP to prove that the extension is warranted.

Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas of Ilocos Norte said Duterte has called on the Congress to conduct a special session at 9 a.m. on Saturday to consider the extension of martial law.

House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez vowed for the passage of the measure extending martial law.

However, Rep. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao, a member of Magnificent 7 and petitioner of martial law before the Supreme Court, asked the Palace and the leadership of Congress to give lawmakers more time to study the situation before considering the extension. </s> MANILA
• Philippine lawmakers yesterday voted to extend martial law on the southern island of Mindanao until the end of the year, giving President Rodrigo Duterte extra time to quell a rebellion by militants allied with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.

After debating for seven hours, 261 lawmakers agreed to extend military rule in a special session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The votes represented more than two-thirds of Congress, which has over 300 lawmakers.

Sixteen members of the Senate and 245 from the Lower House voted in favour of the extension until Dec 31.

Only 18 voted against the motion - four senators and 14 members of the House of Representatives.

Mr Duterte had previously imposed a 60-day period of martial law over Mindanao when fighting broke out in Marawi on May 23.

But it was set to expire at midnight yesterday.

Martial law allows the military to establish control, with measures such as curfews, checkpoints and gun control, in a country where civilians are allowed to keep licensed firearms at home.

However, any martial law extensions must be approved by Congress.

The subject remains sensitive in the Philippines, decades after late dictator Ferdinand Marcos put the country under military rule for part of his 20-year term. Thousands of critics, political opponents and communist guerillas were killed, detained or arrested during the period, according to historians.

About a dozen protesters in the gallery interrupted yesterday's hearing, chanting "never again, never again to martial law" before they were escorted out.

A slide presentation accompanying Mr Duterte's request, seen by AFP, compared the Marawi crisis to the ISIS takeover of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Marawi itself could now become a magnet for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, it said.

Most of the militant leaders remain at large, the presentation added, while about 90 of the gunmen have slipped past security cordons and may link up with other armed groups in the region to mount similar wide-scale attacks.

A reported released last Friday by the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (Ipac) warned that the terrorist network battling Philippine forces in Marawi may be preparing Muslim militants to carry out similar attacks in Asia.

Ipac director Sidney Jones told Reuters: "The risks won't end when the military declares victory (in Marawi)."

The two men heading the Marawi network had also apparently urged militants to attack targets in Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Japan and China, said Ipac.

They were said to have sent out the message on the Russian-developed social media app Telegram. </s> Philippines to extend martial law in south until year end

The Philippine Congress today voted to extend President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the south until the end of the year to defeat Islamist gunmen. — Reuters picMANILA, July 22 — The Philippine Congress today voted to extend President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the south until the end of the year to defeat Islamist gunmen.

In a special joint session of the House and the Senate, legislators overwhelmingly backed Duterte’s bid to have martial law remain in force in the Mindanao region until December 31.

The vote came as troops continued their two-month long fight to wrest back the southern city of Marawi from Islamic State-inspired militants.

Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 shortly after the gunmen, waving the black flags of the IS group, occupied parts of Marawi, triggering weeks of bloody fighting.

The vote was largely a foregone conclusion as Duterte enjoy majorities in both houses of Congress.

But opposition lawmakers dragged out the debate, questioning why martial law was needed for the whole of Mindanao when the fighting was limited to only one city.

“I fear that the plan to extend the martial law in Mindanao will pave the way for a Philippines-wide martial law,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros ahead of the vote.

A slide presentation accompanying Duterte’s request, seen by AFP, compared the Marawi crisis to the Islamic State takeover of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Marawi itself could now become a magnet for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, it said.

Most of the militants’ leaders remain at large, the presentation added, while about 90 of the gunmen have slipped past security cordons and can link up with other armed groups in the region to mount similar widescale attacks.

At the hearing, defence and security officials justified the extended martial law, saying that aside from Marawi, Islamist militants were planning attacks in other parts of Mindanao.

They said almost a thousand pro-IS militants, holding 23 hostages, were still active elsewhere in the south.

In Marawi, the military said only about 60 gunmen were left in a 49-hectare (121-acre) area of Marawi, but Duterte said he needed martial law powers to rebuild the city and ensure the war did not spread elsewhere.

“I cannot afford to be complacent,” Duterte told reporters yesterday, adding the military would be conducting further “mopping up operations” even after they recapture Marawi.

“If there is a spillage it will not be as bad if you have this stopgap,” he added.

Duterte imposed 60-day martial rule — the maximum period allowed by the constitution — over the Mindanao region on May 23 within hours of the gunmen beginning their rampage.

On Monday he asked Congress to extend it until the end of the year, along with the continued suspension of a constitutional safeguard against warrantless arrests.

Martial law allows the military to establish control with measures such as curfews, checkpoints and gun controls in a country where civilians are authorised to keep licensed firearms in their homes.

However, any martial law extension must be approved by Congress.

The subject remains sensitive in the Philippines, decades after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos put the country under military rule for part of his 20-year term.

Thousands of critics, political opponents as well as communist guerrillas were killed, detained or arrested during the period, according to historians.

About a dozen protesters in the gallery interrupted today’s hearing, chanting “never again, never again to martial law” before being escorted out.

Duterte had already beaten back a Supreme Court petition to declare martial law in Mindanao illegal.

“Once he feels that there is not enough opposition to a nationwide martial law declaration, he will go for it,” Senator Antonio Trillanes told AFP on Tuesday.

This is part of a bid to stay in office beyond his mandated six years, he warned.

Duterte, 72, insists he has no plan to stay in office beyond his term. — AFP </s> President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte wants the extension of martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year, his spokesman said Tuesday.

 Duterte, in a letter to Congress, said the “existing rebellion” in Mindanao would not end on July 22, the 60th day in the limit prescribed by the Constitution.

 “Upon a thorough personal assessment of the current situation in Marawi City and other parts of Mindanao and taking into account the reports and recommendations of the Secretary of National Defense as martial law administrator, the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as martial law implementor and the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), I have come to the conclusion that the existing rebellion in Mindanao which prompted me to issue Proclamation 216 on 23rd May 2017, will not be quelled completely by the 22nd July 2017 – the last day of 60-day period provided under Section 18 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution,” Duterte said in a message read by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a Palace briefing.

 “For this reason and because public safety requires it, I call upon the Congress to extend until 31st December 2017 or for such a period of time as the Congress may determine the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao,” Duterte’s message added. </s> Manila (AFP) - The Philippine Congress opened a special session Saturday to vote on President Rodrigo Duterte's bid for an extension of martial law in the south to defeat Islamist gunmen.

Duterte is widely expected to win approval for martial law in the region until the end of the year, with troops having failed to wrest back Marawi city following two months of fighting.

A slide presentation accompanying Duterte's request, seen by AFP, compared the Marawi crisis to the Islamic State takeover of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Marawi itself could now become a magnet for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, it said.

Most of the militants' leaders remain at large, the presentation added, while about 90 of the gunmen have slipped past security cordons and can link up with other armed groups in the region to mount similar widescale attacks.

At the hearing, defence and security officials justified the need for martial law, saying that aside from Marawi, Islamist militants were planning attacks in other parts of the southern Philippines.

They said almost a thousand pro-IS militants, holding 23 hostages, were still active elsewhere in the south.

In Marawi, the military said only about 60 gunmen were left in a 49-hectare (121-acre) area of Marawi, but Duterte said he needed martial law powers to rebuild the city and ensure the war did not spread elsewhere.

"I cannot afford to be complacent," Duterte told reporters Friday, adding the military would be conducting further "mopping up operations" even after they recapture Marawi.

"If there is a spillage it will not be as bad if you have this stopgap," he added.

Duterte imposed 60-day martial rule -- the maximum period allowed by the constitution -- over the Mindanao region on May 23 within hours of the gunmen beginning their rampage.

On Monday he asked Congress to extend it until the end of the year, along with the continued suspension of a constitutional safeguard against warrantless arrests.

In an unprecedented move, both the House and the Senate met jointly on a weekend to vote on Duterte's request.

- 'Nationwide martial law' -

Story continues

Martial law allows the military to establish control with measures such as curfews, checkpoints and gun controls in a country where civilians are authorised to keep licensed firearms in their homes.

However, any martial law extension must be approved by Congress.

The subject remains sensitive in the Philippines, decades after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos put the country under military rule for part of his 20-year term.

Thousands of critics, political opponents as well as communist guerrillas were killed, detained or arrested during the period, according to historians.

About a dozen protesters in the gallery interrupted Saturday's hearing, chanting "never again, never again to martial law" before being escorted out.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has said previously he sees no roadblock to the swift approval of the extension by both chambers of Congress.

Duterte had already beaten back a Supreme Court petition to declare martial law in Mindanao illegal.

But opposition politicians have criticised Duterte's proposal for an extension, with some alleging it is part of a Duterte plot to eventually bring the country under a military-backed dictatorship.

"Once he feels that there is not enough opposition to a nationwide martial law declaration, he will go for it," Senator Antonio Trillanes told AFP on Tuesday.

After this he could declare a revolutionary government to allow him to stay in office beyond his six-year electoral term in mid-2022, Trillanes says.

Duterte, 72, insists he has no plan to stay in office beyond his term.
After seven hours of debate, the joint special session of the Congress of the Philippines votes 261–18 in favour of the motion to extend Proclamation No. 216 (martial law on the whole of Mindanao in response to the Marawi crisis), that was set to expire 10 PM Philippine Standard Time, until the end of the year.