List of the Senators who vote ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for the third extension of Martial Law in Mindanao

For the third time, the request of the Duterte administration to grant Mindanao it’s third martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus received widespread support in both the lower and upper house.

Despite some casted doubt on the martial law, the 235 members of the lower house expressed their support to its third extension while only 28 lawmakers disagreed with the proposal of the government.

The third extension of martial law also received a support from the Senate after 12 senators voted in favor of Duterte’s request while five senators voted against it.

The following are the result of the voting for the upper house:

YES TO THE THIRD EXTENSION OF MARTIAL LAW IN MINDANAO

  1. Senate President Vicente Sotto III
  2.  Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri
  3. Senators Gregorio Honasan II
  4. Panfilo Lacson
  5. Richard Gordon
  6. Cynthia Villar
  7.  Grace Poe
  8. Aquilino Pimentel III
  9. Jose Victor Ejercito
  10. Juan Edgardo Angara
  11. Sherwin Gatchalian
  12. Manny Pacquiao

NO TO THE THIRD EXTENSION OF MARTIAL LAW IN MINDANAO

  1. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
  2. Francis Pangilinan
  3.  Paolo Benigno Aquino
  4. Risa Hontiveros
  5. Francis Escudero

ABSTAINED

  1. Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto

Both Senators who hailed from Mindanao Miguel Zubiri and Manny Pacquiao both supported the third extension of martial law, saying that the Mindanaoans feel safer than before of the presence of the soldiers.

“Walang problema sa Mindanao kung may extension ang martial law. Mas makabubuti nga sa amin. Positive ang reaction ng mga tao, hindi problema ang martial law,” Pacquaio said in a radio interview.

The recent briefing with the lawmakers and the top officials of Armed Forces of the Philippines helped the politicians to decide if Mindanao needed a Martial Law even despite the Marawi Siege was already over many months ago.

In his request, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned that Abu Sayaff, Bansamoro Islamic Fighters, Daulah Islamiyah and other terr*rist groups are planning to do hostile activities.

However, some lawmakers like Senator Risa Hontiveros was not convinced that Mindanao still needs the martial law.

She also cast doubt that the third extension of martial law might be used by President Duterte to give his political allies a victory in the upcoming 2019 presidential elections.

“Ginamit ng diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos ang militar at ang dagdag na kapangyarihan nito para ipanalo ang kanyang mga kandidato at para patahimikin ang mga kritiko,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

Senator Bam Aquino also explained that he opposed the third extension of martial law because the government already won against the Maute group during the Marawi siege.

“Wala nang giyera sa Marawi at hindi natin kailangan ng Martial Law para tiyakin ang seguridad at pag-asenso ng Mindanao.”  Aquino said.

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