MANILA, Philippines — Little has changed in the way the senators voted for the third extension of martial law in Mindanao.
In December 2017, the Senate voted 14-4, with 14 granting the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law until 2018 while four disagreed.
The senators who voted in favor of extending martial law in 2018 were then-Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III, Joel Villanueva, Miguel Zubiri, and Nancy Binay.
Minority Floor Leader Senator Franklin Drilon and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino voted no.
Both Senators Francis Escudero and Cynthia Villar were not able to vote during the joint session.
On Wednesday’s joint session, the same senators voted in favor of another extension — this time for 2019 — except for Villanueva and Binay who were both absent, and Recto who abstained.
The only significant change was made by Escudero who voted against it. Villar, on the other hand, voted in favor of the extension.
Congress recently approved another extension until 2019, despite strong opposition from minority lawmakers. The Senate and the House of Representatives voted jointly, with a final vote of 235-28-1. /ee
READ: Congress okays 3rd martial law extension in Mindanao
READ: Voting 14-4, Senate grants martial law extension in Mindanao