Congress joint session closes

The historic joint session to deliberate on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of martial law over Maguindanao province convened at 4:10 p.m. on Monday. Since martial law was lifted last Saturday, the session is expected to close today.
From the many empty seats, both at the gallery and on the congressional floor, it seems the historic joint [...]

Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo: the one who drafted Proclamation 1959 is confused.

Rebellion is hard to prove, says Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo, pointing out that though he was charged with rebellion during the Marcos dictatorship, the charges were not proven until the time he managed to escape.
Later, when as a member of the House of Representatives he was again accused of rebellion, he said it took the [...]

Ermita admits: there was no actual rebellion

“You may be correct there was no actual rebellion going on,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita admitted during interpellation by Rep. Edcel Lagman, but then he turned around and added: “But [there were] all indications [that] rebellion [was] being committed and happening on the ground because of the presence of armed groups…”
Lagman kept asking Acting Justice [...]

Why were there no judges in Cotabato city? One was killed, the other two were on hadj

Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen explains why there were no judges in Cotabato City. Branch 15 has been vacant since the judge there was murdered, and there was no one recommended by the Judicial and Bar council to replace him. The other two judges, of branches 13 and 14, were in Saudi Arabia on hadj, with [...]

AFP admits: the guns of the Ampatuans could have come from gov’t itself

Under questioning from Sen. Benigno Aquino III, vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang gives three reasons for the high powered firearms found in possession of the Ampatuan clan and their the supporters in Maguindanao: they were bought legally, they were acquired illegally, or they could have been given by government at a time [...]

PNP operations director Andres Caro reports on the Ampatuan massacre

Police Director for Operations Andres Caro reports before the joint session on the Ampatuan massacre that happened on November 23, 2009.
He said: All in all there were 57 victims in said incident of which 22 were found unburied, 24, six and five were exhumed from grave site one, two, three. There were 36 males, [...]

Does it look like martial law was the topic in this joint session?

Session was temporarily suspended and both senators and House representatives hobnobbed with each other. If there was tension on the floor, it was not something that could be felt from the gallery.

Locsin, accusing Dilangalen of forum shopping, tells him to go to SM instead

Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. accuses Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen of forum shopping, saying he has filed a case at the Supreme Court and at the same time wanted to question Arroyo over the martial law proclamation. Incensed, Dilangalen says the statement was “preposterous” and asks that Locsin be declared out of order.
House Speaker [...]

Why is the president not here? Dilangalen asks.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, and Interior and Local Secretary Ronaldo Puno are present. Armed Forces chief Victor Ibrado and Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales are missing: Nograles explains that Ibrado was due to arrive from China at 4 p.m. while Nograles is in Singapore and will be available for tomorrow’s joint [...]

Joint Session of Congress

At 4:12 p.m., the joint session of congress opened to deliberate on president gloria macapagal arroyo’s proclamation 1959, placing maguindanao province over martial rule. 18 senators were present. 192 members of the House of Representatives were present.
The senators will occupy the first two rows in the session hall. A part of the gallery was also [...]