MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte secured overwhelming parliamentary approval on Saturday to extend martial law in the southern island of Mindanao until year's end as his government continues to battle with militants linked to Islamic State.
In a special joint session, the Senate and the House of Representatives voted 261-18 to extend martial rule until Dec. 31. The powerful endorsement was widely expected given Duterte's allies in both chambers. Some members of the opposition raised concerns about martial being taken nationwide, however, and sought unsuccessfully to limit the extension to just 60 days as prescribed by the constitution.
