Joint session on martial law to adjourn today
Following the lifting of the martial law in Maguindanao over the weekend, the Congress joint session is expected to push through today, December 14.
But House Majority Leader and 3rd district of Iloilo congressman Arthur Defensor, Sr. said that they are only expected to adjourn the joint session after it was suspended last Thursday.
Congress has used up 11 hours of the 20 hours allotted for deliberations on Proclamation No. 1959 declaring martial law in Maguindanao.
It was supposed to vote on the revocation of Martial Law on Tuesday.
“Madayon gid inang joint session pero indi na ina magdugay tungod nga wala namon ma adjourn sang Huwebes ang session. We merely suspended the session until 4:00 p.m. Monday when we closed the session last Thursday. So, we have to resume on Monday to put a closure to the joint session,” Defensor said over a radio interview.
He added that congressmen and senators might also be given a chance to give their comments on the lifting of the martial law.
Even last week, Defensor said that he already expected that the martial rule declaration will be lifted.
“May gut feeling kami nga subong nga weekend, bawi-on na ni Presidente Arroyo ang martial law sa Maguindanao. Ang amon panan-awan nga nakuha na ni president Arroyo ukon sang administrasyon ang gusto nila ukon ang gusto nila matabo sa Mindanao,” he added.
Among the notable feat the martial law presumably achieved was the arrest of several members of the Ampatuan clan; the toppling of private armed groups; the recoveries of cache of guns and ammunitions; and the return of normalcy in the area.
It was learned that had the joint session continue, some 40 members of the Congress are set to interpolate government officials relative to the constitutionality of martial law today.
Last December 5, Palace announced Proclamation No. 1959 declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatists.
The declaration of martial law led to the arrests without warrants of other members of the Ampatuan family who have been linked to the November 23 massacre of 57 innocent civilians. The carnage drew both local and international condemnation.
