MANILA, Philippines--Allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the House of Representatives will not immediately move in for the kill of initiatives to revoke Proclamation 1959 when the joint session of Congress begins on Wednesday.

Under the draft rules that will be finalized and approved in both chambers Tuesday, the House and the Senate will be given 10 hours each to debate the proclamation which placed Maguindanao province under martial rule, according to Majority Leader Arthur Defensor
Both Defensor and Speaker Prospero Nograles said the rules of procedure governing the holding of a joint session to discuss the declaration of martial law will be finished Tuesday so that Congress can convene in joint session Wednesday.

Nograles had said that majority of the House members favor the declaration, even as most senators are against it. But senators have acknowledged that in a joint voting, they would be outnumbered by the congressmen.

There are 268 House members, while there are only 23 senators.
Defensor, a member of the House panel who met with the Senate to discuss the rules, said Congress will call top Malacanang officials to present their intelligence information and arguments on the proclamation before the plenary.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado, and Philippine National Police chief Jesus Versoza will lead the government officials who will face the lawmakers.

After the presentation, Defensor said the lawmakers will be given chance to interpellate the officials. Each chamber is given 10 hours to interpellate, he added.

After the interpellation, Congress in joint session will vote to either concur with Proclamation 1959 or revoke it.

?This will take long, and you never can tell what will happen,? Defensor said in a phone interview.

He said he expects the proceedings to finish in the remaining five session days, or until December 16. Congress will go on break starting December 18.

Defensor assured that only the martial law in Maguindanao would be discussed in joint session, dispelling talks that charter change could also be tackled.

?The talks have no basis. We will only discuss martial law. If we discuss charter change, we will look stupid,? he said.