Protesters interrupt Congress' joint session on martial law extension

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) — Protesters chanted "martial law sa Mindanao, ibasura. Never again to martial law," inside the Batasang Pambansa session hall on Saturday during Congress' special joint session to discuss the martial law extension.

Defense Secretary and martial law administrator Delfin Lorenzana was explaining to lawmakers the terrorists' presence in conflict-torn Marawi City, when protesters started shouting inside the session hall.

They held up the sign "No To Martial Law," while calling for the imposition of martial law in the south to be junked.

They were quickly escorted out of the session hall by Batasan security.

Kabataan Party-list said volunteer teachers from Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), students, and members of Kabataan and Anakbayan Party-list were behind the lightning rally inside the plenary.

Eight protesters were arrested by authorities and were brought to the Quezon City police district in Camp Karingal.

Twenty senators and 242 congressmen convened to discuss the President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend martial law in Mindanao by end of December 2017.

Related: House, Senate vote on Duterte's request to extend martial law Saturday

Around 300 police forces were deployed outside the area to secure several entry points of the Batasan Complex.