MANILA, Philippines - Congress' joint session on Proclamation 1959 imposing martial law in Maguindanao resumed 4 p.m. on Monday with officials of the executive department no longer in attendance at the plenary.

President Arroyo on Saturday lifted martial law in Maguindanao. However, her declaration of a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City remains.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel opened the session by explaining his stand against Proclamation 1959.

"The lifting of martial rule over the province of Maguindanao last December 12 was a good move. It saved the government from embarrassment because no matter what the authorities say, there was no constitutional basis for its proclamation," Pimentel said.

Critics of the martial law declaration have argued that it was unconstitutional because there was no presence of actual rebellion to justify the declaration as required under the Charter.

Despite the lifting of martial law, they have also called on the Supreme Court to decide on the constitutionality of Proclamation 1959 since it has set a bad precedent.

Nograles: Majority still in favor of martial law

Although Speaker Prospero Nograles said majority of lawmakers from the House of Representatives are in favor of martial law, only a few have so far taken the podium to support it.

Congress last week consumed around 11 hours of the agreed upon 20 hours of interpellations of officials of the executive department led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Nograles said they will adjourn the joint session later on Monday.

At least 40 lawmakers had expressed a desire to speak before the plenary, but only 10 are expected to speak--4 from the majority and 6 from the minority. The rest have been asked to submit their written positions on Proclamation 1959.

Last week, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado, and Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa were present in last week's joint session to defend the proclamation of martial law.

The joint session also dispensed with the calling of the roll.

Abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak estimates there were around 80 lawmakers when the joint session resumed on Monday. With 268 congressmen and 23 senators, 147 members would constitute a quorum.