In an unprecedented move, the Senate and the House of Representatives met jointly on Saturday and voted 261-18 to extend martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31. Before their votes were consolidated, the Senate voted 16-4, while the House members voted 245-14 to extend martial law in the south. About a dozen protesters in the gallery interrupted on Saturday’s hearing, chanting “never again, never again to martial law” before being escorted out. Mr. Duterte had already beaten back a Supreme Court petition to declare martial law in Mindanao illegal. The Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Eduardo Año, said martial law wasn’t the cause of the city’s destruction.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 22, 2017 23:26 UTC