The majority of the 17th Congress of the Philippines gave an extension to the Martial Law imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in the whole island of Mindanao until December 31 this year.
16 out of 24 senators voted in favor of Martial law while four opposed it.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Nancy Binay didn’t voted because of their absence to the joint session held by congress Saturday.
Meanwhile, Senator Leila De Lima was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center that made her disallowed to vote.
This is the result of the voting:
YES TO MARTIAL LAW EXTENSION:
- Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
- Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
- Majority Leader Vicente Sotto “Tito” Sotto III
- Sonny Angara
- Joseph Victor Ejercito
- Franchis “Chiz” Escudero
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Richard Gordon
- Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan
- Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
- Loren Legarda
- Manny Pacquiao
- Grace Poe
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Miguel Zubiri
NO TO MARTIAL LAW EXTENSION:
- Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
- Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
- Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
- Risa Hontiveros
ABSENT:
- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (out of country)
- Senator Nancy Binay (in a foreign trip)
Meanwhile, the majority of the members of the house of the representatives favored the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao.
261 members of the congress favored the martial law, while 14 opposed it.
The lawmakers who opposed the martial law extension are Representatives Gary Alejano, Lito Atienza, Teddy Baguilat, JC Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado, Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao, France Castro, Emmi De Jesus, Sarah Jane Elago, Edcel Lagman, Antonio Tinio, Tom Villarin and Carlos Zarate.
Only 158 votes from both houses of Congress were needed to get a majority of the votes.
The members of the opposition on Saturday expressed their fear for the possible expansion of martial law in the whole Philippines because of the tremendous amount of support got by the Duterte administration from the 17th congress.
“Hindi pa rin panatag ang loob natin na kung sakali sa darating na mga araw na magkaroon ng isolated acts of terrorism either in the Visayas or in Luzon, will this be the basis to declare martial law in Luzon, in Visayas or nationwide?” Senator Pangilinan said.
Hontiveros also insisted that Martial Law would not help the military to their anti-terrorism operations in Marawi.
“Absent any plausible explanation, I can only reach one conclusion: martial law has no strategic contribution to the military’s anti-terrorism operations in Marawi,” Hontiveros said.
“I fear that the plan to extend the martial law in Mindanao will pave the way for a Philippines-wide martial law,” she added.
The Malacañang also released a statement following the support gained by the extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying that ‘the debate is over’ and the government must now continue their job to fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to Mindanao.
“We thank Congress for approving the extension of martial law until December 31, 2017,” Presidential Spokesperson Abella said.
This week, President Rodrigo Duterte asked for a 150 day extension of martial law in Mindanao to exterminate the armed groups that brought chaos in the southern part of the Philippines.
