Martial law to be extended to the end of year in Philippine's Mindanao

Manila, July 22 : Members of the Philippines' Senate and Congress on Saturday voted for extending the martial law on the island of Mindanao until the end of the year.

At the joint session at the House of Representatives in Quezon city, President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend the martial law received 261 votes in favour, with 18 against, reports Efe news.

There was chaos in the House as Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana took the floor and around eight activists unfurled banners and shouted anti-martial law slogans. They were immediately ushered out by security officers.

The Philippine constitution allows for a maximum of 60-days of martial law without Congress' approval.

On May 23, Duterte declared martial law on the whole island of Mindanao amid growing armed offensives carried out by the Maute group, one of the Islamist militant groups operating in the region.