President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking to extend martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017 or until the end of this year. The plea is contained in the 7-page formal request letter sent by the President to Senate and Congress. In the letter, the President is asking both houses of Congress to hold a joint special session on Saturday (July 22) to approve the extension of martial law. Abella noted the President knows that it is up to Congress to set the period for the effectivity of martial law, following the 1987 Constitution. Duterte had imposed martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017.

Source: The Standard July 18, 2017 04:30 UTC