Senate may hold special session on martial law if needed

Senate President Vicente Sotto III (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

If necessary, the Senate will hold a special session on the recommended extension of martial law in Mindanao, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday.

Sotto was reacting to reports that Armed Forces of the Philippines would recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao for at least another year.

The Senate, he said, would have to comply if President Rodrigo Duterte would call for a special session even after Congress had gone on Christmas break on Dec. 14.

“If the President calls for a special session, we have to comply,” Sotto said in an interview at the Senate.

READ: AFP to recommend extension of martial law in Mindanao

Sotto is adamant the Senate needs to have a briefing on the AFP or the executive department’s proposal on the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

“If the AFP or executive department is proposing an extension of martial law, we have to have a briefing,” he said. “We need to decide intelligently.” /atm