SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Thursday that only Congress had the power to extend martial law. Drilon dismissed the claim of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo that President Rodrigo Duterte could just issue a new martial law proclamation if Congress did not extend Proclamation 216 placing Mindanao under martial law. “The Constitution is clear that it is Congress that has the power to extend martial law and the President may only recommend. You cannot circumvent the Constitution,” Drilon said. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Source: Manila Times July 06, 2017 05:37 UTC