Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said Congress has the power to end martial law earlier than December 31 if they would see the need for it but doubted whether President Rodrigo Duterte himself would allow martial law to continue if there would no longer be a need for it. Sotto said Congress, through a resolution, could hold another joint session to revoke the declaration of martial law if there were abuses or if the situation in Mindanao has been stabilized. Poe said Congress could ask security officials for a regular briefing to update lawmakers on the status of the implementation of martial law. Sotto and Poe were among the 16 senators who voted to extend martial law until December 31 during the special joint session of Congress on Saturday. READ: Martial law extended

Source: Manila Times July 23, 2017 06:22 UTC