Senators urge Malacañang to inform Congress of plans to extend martial law

Malacañang should inform Congress early on if it plans to extend martial law in Mindanao again, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said.

Given the Senate’s tight schedule amid deliberations on the proposed R3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, it would be best if the Palace decides soon whether or not they will extend the declaration so senators can prepare for it.

The Senate has five working days starting next week to scrutinize and finish the deliberations on the 2019 national budget.

Senators are targeting to finish the deliberations on December 14, before they go on a holiday break.

“Dapat mag-desisyon na ang Malacañang para mapaghandaan ng mga senador ang schedule (Malacañang should decide soon so that senators can prepare the schedule),” Zubiri said during a Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Last year, May 23, President Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law after ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives, jointly, extended the declaration twice. It is expected to expire on December 31 of this year.

According to Zubiri, they have yet to receive any word from Malacañang. He said Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has committed to ask Palace officials about it.

“It’s better if they give us the heads up when they plan to do so, so we can discuss this as a body and set the date for joint session,” he said.