(Eagle News)– Senators took part in a closed-door briefing by security officials on Wednesday (July 19) morning ahead of the special joint session on Saturday (July 22) for President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of this year.
The briefing was led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Eduardo Año, martial law administrator.
Among the senators who attended the briefing were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Richard Gordon, Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Juan Edgardo Angara.
Several senators announced their support for extending martial law for the next five months even before the briefing started.
Zubiri said the extension would give security forces adequate time to address all armed threats in the region.
Zubiri, who is from Mindanao, added that he agrees that the whole region of Mindanao be covered by martial law.
Gordon said he would have wanted to extend martial law for only 60 days more, but added that he understands where Duterte is coming from.
Congress will convene in joint session on Saturday to discuss and decide on the President’s request.
