Upon President Duterte’s behest, the Senate and the House in joint session last Wednesday voted to again extend martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. What lingers disquietingly, however, is the question whether the extension complies with the provision of the 1987 Constitution, specifically Section 18 of Article VII (Executive Department). However, the extension easily sailed through Congress and was again upheld by the Supreme Court. He mentioned four bombing incidents during the extended period of martial law. Yet, without waiting for the “detailed report,” Congress approved the requested extension.

Source: Philippine Star December 14, 2018 16:00 UTC