In a bold act, both the Senate and the Congress met jointly on Saturday and voted to extend the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao until the end of 2017.
Despite opposition, the two chambers passed a resolution extending for five months President Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation No. 216, which imposed a 6-day martial rule in Mindanao on the 23rd of May in the wake of the Marawi Siege against the ISIS-backed Maute group. About 261 have voted to the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao while 18 have voted against it.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the duration of the Martial Law, if declared in an event of a rebellion, will last for around 60 days but it is up to the Congress for the extension of the said rule.
The Malacañang praised the vote and said Congress' extension of martial law is their only chance to combat terrorism in the said region.
Since September 21, 1972, the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos declared the whole Philippines under Martial Law due to clashes against the communist forces. It lasted for almost a decade and right after Marcos was ousted from power.
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