BY ROGER M. BALANZA

Even without martial law, President Rodrigo Duterte will impose warrantless arrest against  suspects in rebellion.

With or without martial law, I will arrest you without a warrant, said Duterte.

The President made the statement in a media interview in Davao City on Friday, a day before Congress meet in a Special Session to tackle his request for a 5-month extension of Proclamation 216 that declared Martial Law in Mindanao.

Duterte issued Proc.216 on May 23 following the attack by the terrorist Maute Group on Marawi City.

The Senate and the House of Representatives will convene in a joint session on July 22, when the constitutionally-limited 60-day Proc. 216 ends, to discuss the extension requested by Duterte.

The Constitution provides that an extension to a martial law proclamation by the President must be approved by members of the Senate and the House convened in joint session.

“If I think that it is part of the war, if I believe in good faith” that you are a rebel, I will arrest you  “with or without martial law,” Duterte said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has issued arrest warrants against more than 300 people including politicians alleged to be involved in the Marawi siege by the ISIS-backed Maute Group.

Only sixty of the subjects have been arrested, media reports said.