Ex-PNP chiefs Ping, Bato ready to probe Jolo slays in Senate

Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, both former chiefs of the Philippine National Police, expressed readiness on Thursday to hold Senate hearings on the killing of four military men by police in Jolo, Sulu.

Lacson, who leads the Senate committee on national defense, said it is his duty to schedule such legislative inquiry once the filed resolution seeking such inquiry is referred to his panel.

"The proponent/s of the resolution must at least state what kind [of] legislation we need to pass, among others, out of the Jolo incident," he added, assuring that the Senate probe will be impartial.

Dela Rosa, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order, said he would defer his opinion on the incident until the National Bureau of Investigation is completed.

"I will start the hearing once referred to my committee," he said.

Earlier in the day, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation on the incident to institutionalize measures against "excessive use of force and violence within the police force."

Both Lacson and Dela Rosa warned ground commanders to control the situation in Sulu to prevent any further escalation which may be taken advantage of by state enemies. -NB, GMA News