The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines—The historic joint session of Congress adjourned at 8:15 Monday night without taking a stand on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao province.

Hours before adjourning, however, the Senate adopted a resolution saying that the martial law proclamation was unconstitutional even after Ms Arroyo lifted it on Saturday.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said most senators and representatives felt that the lifting of martial law had rendered moot and academic a vote by the joint session of Congress on Ms Arroyo’s imposition of martial law.

“We just allowed those who want to speak on the floor to have their time because there is no gag order in Congress,” Nograles said.

It was the first time under the 1987 Constitution that a country’s leader had declared martial law.

The 1987 Constitution mandates a joint session of Congress to approve or revoke a martial law declaration by a simple majority.

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Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles preside over an unprecedented joint session of Congress called to deliberate on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao.

MANILA, Philippines—“Where is the President?”

Lawmakers Wednesday cited the glaring absence of the commander in chief, who declared martial law in Maguindanao province, during the first joint session of Congress.

The session was delayed by almost an hour due to debates on the absence of the President, her defense secretary and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Why is she not here? This is history. Does she not have the courtesy at all to report in person? We thought that with the President declaring martial law, the President herself should be here to explain to us,” asked Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, his voice rising.

Together with fellow Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, Dilangalen said that they were the only lawmakers who were personally affected by Presidential Proclamation No. 1959.

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday said security forces should “immediately turn over” to the poll body the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia that were reportedly confiscated during their search of the houses of the Ampatuan family in Maguindanao province.

Comelec Chair Jose Melo, however, refused to comment on whether the election materials had something to do with the claims of fraud in the 2004 and 2007 polls.

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SHARIFF AGUAK – (UPDATE 7) A key suspect in the gruesome killings in Maguindanao province and member of a powerful clan in Mindanao has surrendered to authorities and would be flown to Manila.

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., has been identified as having masterminded the massacre last November 23 that claimed the lives of at least 57 people, including 18 journalists who were supposed to cover the filing of candidacy for governor of the Ampatuans’ political rival, Buluan Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu.

Ampatuan Jr., accompanied by Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao, arrived in General Santos at 12:25 p.m. and was handed over to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera who would bring the local official to Manila.

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SANIAG, Philippines (AFP) - – The Philippines declared a state of emergency in parts of the volatile south on Tuesday as anger spiralled over a savage political massacre that left at least 46 people dead.

Police on Mindanao island pulled bullet-riddled bodies from shallow graves after gunmen allegedly hired by a local political chief abducted then shot dead a group of politicians from a rival clan and accompanying journalists.

As thousands of troops fanned out across the ultra-tense Maguindanao province on Mindanao, President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency for the area that would allow curfews and road checkpoints to be imposed.

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