More than a hundred members of the House of Representatives are getting a briefing from cabinet members and security officials on Wednesday morning.
This comes, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.
Congress convened in an executive session after it transformed itself into a Committee of the Whole in order to be able to discuss sensitive security issues in private.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas has been designated Committee Chairman.
During the briefing, lawmakers will also get the latest updates on the military operations and firefights in Marawi City.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez says, lawmakers will be given the chance to ask questions.
He notes, the reasons for the President’s actions are clear, yet House members naturally have some questions and they want to seek clarifications from officials in Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During his speech prior to the executive session, the House leader called on his fellow legislators to support President Duterte's decisions to resolve the unrest in Marawi City.
18 resource persons are present for the event, including Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa.
People in the gallery, including the members of the media, were asked to leave the session hall as security matters were about to be tackled.
Duterte’s justifications for declaring martial law are contained in a report he submitted to Congress last week.
He had cited Maute's attempt to take control of Marawi City as among the factors for declaring Martial Law in Mindanao.
