Duterte, senators to tackle Marawi, martial law

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte JOEY DALUMPINES/presidential PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with senators from the majority bloc a week before Congress opens its second regular session on July 24.

Asked about the agenda of the meeting with the President, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said apart from the legislative agenda and Mr. Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 24, it would likely touch on the assessment of the ongoing government operations to retake Marawi City from the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf.

The senators had earlier asked for a second security briefing on the Marawi situation.

The planned meeting in Malacañang will come at a time when the 60-day martial law proclamation in Mindanao is set to expire on July 22.

Mr. Duterte has stressed he has no plans to lift martial law until military officials tell him the security situation in Mindanao is no longer critical.

Under the 1987 Constitution, upon the initiative of the President, martial law could be extended by Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon last week urged the President to notify Congress that he wanted an extension of the martial law proclamation before its expiration.

Drilon has also suggested that Congress tackle the extension after the President delivers his Sona, saying a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives requires this.