House sets martial law hearing with Cabinet secretaries

May 29, 2017

The plenary voted to convene the House of Representatives in a committee of the whole Wednesday morning to ask questions from members of the Cabinet on President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas moved to constitute the House of Representatives in a committee of the whole which was challenged by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman who pushed for a joint session of Congress. Some of the resource persons invited by the House of Representatives include Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman, National Security Council (NSC) Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Fariñas said the officials are expected to defend the Martial Law and "answer questions about the Report of the President." He defended the executive session should a resource person request for it, stressing this is required on "matters involving national security may be discussed like locations, tactics and strategy of those involved in the rebellion, more so, for our government forces." On Monday, senators were briefed by Cabinet secretaries based on an earlier agreement of the House leadership with the Senate leadership through Senate Majority Leader Vicente  Sotto III.  DMS