Congress extends martial law to December 31

(3rd UPDATE) Lawmakers vote 261-18 to approve President Rodrigo Duterte's request to
extend martial law in Mindanao.

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) As expected, the 17th Congress granted President
Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend martial law in Mindanao to December 31.The Senate and
the House of Representatives in a joint session on Saturday, July 22, voted 261-18 in favor of
the President's request. No one abstained among those present.

"Pursuant to the Constitution and the rules of the joint session, the motion to extend the
proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is
hereby approved by the Congress," House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez announced, as
members of Congress clapped.

Below is the breakdown of votes:

Senators: 16 "yes" votes, 4 "no" votes

Members of the House of Representatives: 245 "yes" votes, 14 "no" votes

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 through Proclamation Number
216 after government troops clashed with homegrown terrorists from the Maute Group and Abu
Sayyaf Group in Marawi City.

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 would require from both houses of Congress.

Two months since Duterte issued Proclamation Number 216, however, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and the Philippine National Police have not yet neutralized the rebels.

Duterte then 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.Congress had previously refused to convene jointly to discuss the merits of
Dutertes declaration of martial law.

Instead, both the Senate and the House received briefings from national security officials and
issued separate resolutions expressing support for the martial law in Mindanao.
Protesters disrupt Congress joint session on martial law

Never again, never again, never again to martial law!' shout the protesters as lawmakers tackle
the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law in Mindanao.

MANILA, Philippines Eight teachers from the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and
Livelihood Development (Alcadev) disrupted the joint session of Congress on the extension of
martial law in Mindanao on Saturday, July 22.

The group held a lightning rally inside the session hall and began shouting while ACT-Teachers
Representative Antonio Tinio asked Defense Secretary DelfinLorenzana about the need to
extend martial law in the region when the number of Maute rebels have decreased by more than
half. (WATCH: LIVE: Congress joint session on martial law in Mindanao)

Never again, never again, never again to martial law! shouted the protesters as they raised
signs bearing the same message in front of 14 senators and 242 lawmakers.The protesters,
teachers to the Lumads, were immediately escorted out of the plenary hall by security personnel
of the House of Representatives. They were brought to Quezon City Precinct 6.The Alcadev
protesters were able to enter the premises despite strict security because they have ties with
the House Makabayan bloc composed of left-leaning lawmakers, including Tinio.

They were identified as RenzPasigpasigan, Vince Simon, Chad Booc, Kenneth Cadiang,
Michael Joselo Villanueva, JP Rosos, Jose Mari Callueng, and Almira Abril.

The Alcadev was created on July 19, 2004, as an alternative learning system for indigent
indigenous youth, including those belonging to the tribes of the Manobo, Higaonon, Banwaon,
Talaandig, and Mamanwa.

Minutes before the interruption, National Security Adviser HermogenesEsperonJr told

lawmakers that Dutertes martial law is not the martial that we had before, referring to martial
rule under the Marcos regime. (READ: Duterte to make warrantless arrests even without martial
law)

The local officials have not been arrested there. The courts are functioning. They are helping
us. We are helping each other. Congress is in session. This is not the martial law that we had
before. The martial law that we have now is to protect the people of Mindanao, he said.On
Saturday, the House and the Senate convened in a joint session to discuss whether or not to
grant President Rodrigo Dutertes request to extend martial law in Mindanao until December 31.

Duterte had put the region under martial rule after government troops clashed with the Maute
Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group on May 23.