Bakit kinakailangang isailalim ang Mindanao sa martial law nang lima pang buwan? Ano ba ang layunin nito? Ano’ng kapangyarihan ng Pangulo ang gustong ipatupad sa panahong ito sa ilalim ng martial law na iba sa kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob sa kanya ng batas at ng Konstitusyon? Sa ilalim ng pinalawig na panahong ito, anu-ano ang inaasahang mangyari ng Pangulo?
Ito ay ilan sa mga katanungang nais natin at ng sambayanan na masagot at malaman sa joint session. Bilang kinatawan ng mamamayan sa Kongreso, hindi natin tatalikuran ang ating tungkulin na i-assess kung may basehan, kung angkop at kung tama sa pagpapalawig sa martial law. Hinihimok natin ang ating mga kasamahan na magsalita na at mapakinggan at huwag hayaan mawalan ng saysay ang joint session.
Why does Mindanao need to be placed under martial law for five more months? What are the objectives? What powers does the President want to exercise during this period under martial law that is distinct from the powers granted to him by law and the Constitution?
Under the extension period, what does the President hope to accomplish?
These are some of the questions we, together with the Filipino people, want answered during the joint session. As representatives of the people in Congress, we will not renege on our duty to assess the basis, propriety, and wisdom of the martial law extension. We urge our colleagues to speak up and be heard and not make the joint session an exercise in futility.