Senators to be briefed on Marawi Wednesday

Fire and smoke rises over Marawi City after a series of airstrikes by OV-10 Bronco light attack aircraft hit parts of the city in this June 29, 2017 photo. INQUIRER MINDANAO / RICHEL V. UMEL

Security officials will give senators a briefing on the current situation in strife-torn Marawi City on Wednesday.

“This was set before the President requested for an extension. This was planned within the 60-day martial law period that there should be periodic briefing of the senators as to how it has been implemented and what’s happening with martial law in Mindanao,” Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel II said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

“Whatever we will hear, we can use in making our decision on Saturday,” Pimentel said.

Expected to be present in the meeting are Defense Secretary and martial law administrator Delfin Lorenzana, national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Eduardo Año.

On Saturday, both chambers of the Congress will convene in a joint session to vote on the extension of martial law.

A day after meeting with select members of the Senate and House of Representatives, President Duterte recommended the Congress to allow the extension of martial law on the whole Mindanao.

Senators present in the meeting in Malacañang said Duterte presented to them a “scary” picture of terrorism in the region.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the President raised concern about terror attacks spilling over to other Mindanao provinces outside Marawi City.

“The threat is real and the President is very clear that terrorism is here in our country now,” Gatchalian said on Tuesday.

Duterte put the entire island of Mindanao under army rule when members of the ISIS-backed Maute group tried to occupy Marawi last May 23. CBB