Trillanes chides Gordon over plan to reopen Mamasapano probe

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday chided Senator Richard Gordon for his plan to reopen the Senate investigation on the 2015 Mamasapano massacre following the indictment of former President Benigno Aquino III.

“Mas aatupagin pa ni Sen. Gordon yung nakaraang issue na piniga nang husto ng dating Kongreso pero yung mga libo-libong pinapatay na Pilipino sa kasalukuyan, wala siyang panahon,” Trillanes said in a text message.

Gordon, chairperson of the Senate justice and human rights committee, earlier said he wants to reopen the investigation into the Mamasapano incident, which killed more than 60 people, including 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF).

He also plans to invite Aquino, saying the former President “has to man up and face the consequences.”

Last week, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of charges against Aquino, and former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas.

In a separate text message, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he seeks to clarify with Gordon what the intention of his planned hearing is.

“Will talk to Senator Gordon to find out what angle of the incident he wants to probe this time. Because that was already reopened at the request of Senator Enrile before. Hence this will be the third investigation,” Pimentel said.

In January 2016, then Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s request to reopen the Mamasapano probe was granted by the Senate public order committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe.

Poe however said that there were no issues presented and there was no need to amend an earlier committee report she issued. In the said report, Poe said Aquino was “ultimately responsible” for the Mamasapano incident. 

The botched police operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan led to a bloodbath after the SAF troops were engaged in a gunfight and cornered by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), its splinter group the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and members of private armies.

Forty-four police commandos died in Mamasapano while waiting for reinforcements. —ALG/KVD, GMA News