Congress would still have to be convened to vote for or against the martial law proclamation of President Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Loren Legarda insisted on a statement issued on Friday. The statement runs contrary earlier statements made by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas that it would not be necessary to convene Congress in a joint session. But Legarda said: “The Congress is called upon by the Constitution to convene whether in a regular or special session and vote jointly to revoke a martial law proclamation and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. 216, in which he declared martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus over the whole of Mindanao. Under the Constitution, the president is required to submit a report to Congress within 48 hours after declaring martial law, which will only be good for 60 days.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 26, 2017 15:00 UTC