CONGRESS convened Wednesday its historic joint session to discuss the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao following the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead, including 30 journalists, in the country’s worst election-related violence.
Legislators grilled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza on the basis for Proclamation 1959 signed by President Gloria Arroyo last week.
The joint session, which started shortly after 4 p.m., lasted six hours. Outside Congress, opponents of martial law held a rally urging the revocation of Proclamation 1959.
VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio’s photos: