Joint session of Congress agrees to extend martial law in Mindanao for one year starting January 1

December 13, 2017

A joint session of the Philippine Congress voted 240 for and 27 against to grant the extension of martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus for one year in Mindanao starting January 1 2018 on Wednesday. At the House of Representatives, 226 lawmakers voted yes and 23 against. At the Senate, there were 14 senators who voted yes and four against. The current martial law declaration in Mindanao will lapse on December 31, 2017. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace welcomes "the approval of both houses of Congress to extend the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao beginning January 1, 2018 until December 31, 2018. " Roque said the government is asking "the public to stand behind the Administration and rally behind our defenders to quell the continuing rebellion in Mindanao; eradicate the Daesh-inspired Da’awatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masriq (DIWM) and other like-minded local/ foreign terrorist groups and armed lawless groups, and the communist terrorists and their coddlers, supporters and financiers; and ensure the unhampered rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi and the lives of its residents."  DMS