Security officials to brief senators on Marawi situation Wednesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18): Security officials to brief senators on Marawi situation Wednesday

National security officials are set to apprise senators on the developments in Marawi City on Wednesday.

Senate Majority Vicente Sotto III, Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed the scheduled meeting in separate interviews.

Sotto earlier said that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, in a recent meeting, mentioned that he wanted to extend martial law to another 60 days.

Ejercito and Gatchalian were both privy on details.

Gatchalian, however, said that there will be a joint session in Congress on Saturday.

He said that the Senate will also find out the scope of martial law on Wednesday.

The neophyte senator, meanwhile, allayed fears that martial law could be extended to Visayas.

Last May 29, the Senate and some national security officials met in a close-door meeting to discuss Pres. Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. attended the Senate plenary session which was adjourned quickly to make room for the close-door meeting.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1001459