LAWMAKERS from Cebu all voted in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2017, joining the majority of the House of Representatives in approving the request of President Rodrigo Duterte.
All Cebu lawmaker namely Gerald Anthony Gullas, Wilfredo Caminero, Gwendolyn Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon, Ramon Durano, Jonas Cortes, Peter John Calderon, Raul Del Mar, and Rodrigo Abellanosa favored the President's request for an extension of the martial law.
During the joint session of both chambers of Congress, 245 members of the House of Representatives were convinced that martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017 will prevent the rebellion from spilling over to other parts of the country. Fourteen, however, believed otherwise.
For the part of the Senate, only four senators voted to deny Duterte's bid to extend martial law while 16 backed the administration's move.
Duterte on May 23 placed Mindanao under martial law after the Maute group tried to take over the city. He asked for a five-month extension of the 60-day validity of the initial proclamation is set to expire at 10 p.m. Saturday. (SunStar Philippines)