Belmonte to speak with solons for more orderly conduct at Mamasapano probe

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is set to talk with the two lawmakers presiding over the lower chamber’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident to avoid a repeat of the chaotic hearing last week.

According to House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Belmonte will speak with Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer and Basilan Rep. Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman Saliman so they can be guided on how to proceed with the upcoming hearings scheduled for Feb. 17 and 18.

“Balak ni Speaker na kausapin ‘yung dalawang chairman para ma-assess din sila kung ano ang magiging direksyon ng House dito kasi nga may mga impormasyon na nakakalap na di rin maganda na lalong painitin [ang sentimyento] ng mga tao sa ngayon,” Gonzales told dzBB radio in an interview Sunday.

Ferrer chairs the House committee on public order and safety while Saliman heads the committee on peace, reconciliation and unity. The two panels are holding a joint probe on the covert police operation carried out by Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) last Jan. 25 that left 44 elite cops dead.

The commandos had gone to Mamasapano, Maguindanao to nab suspected terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.

The House’s initial hearing on the incident last week was marred by mayhem from start to finish, with several lawmakers having heated exchanges with their colleagues. Not a few netizens have remarked the hearing looked like “a circus.”

'House became the news'

Gonzales said that while he understands the strong public sentiment about the Mamasapano incident, he believes lawmakers shouldn’t fan emotions any further.

“While the public is indeed very emotional on the matter, may panahon ding dapat tayo’y maghinay-hinay, na wag din kami ang magiging dahilan para lalong mapaypayan ‘yung init ng damdamin ng mga tao… Unfortunately the House became the news. Kami ang naging balita,” he said.

“We hope that when the hearings resume, mabigyan ng pagkakataon ‘yung mga taong talagang tinawag na maging resource speakers [na magsalita],” Gonzales added.

Task force proposed

Even as both chambers of Congress and various government agencies are conducting their respective probes into the Mamasapano incident, the House leader believes it would be better if a task force investigated the clash.

Gonzales believes the public ends up being confused about the incident because of the various angles that tend to be highlighted in the separate investigations conducted by different agencies.

“Sa lahat ng mga nangyayaring ito, ang nagiging biktima ay ang mga mamamayan dahil [lalo silang] naguguluhan. Depende sa anggulo ng nagdadala ng issue, either lalong pinaiinit [ang damdamin] ng mga tao, ‘yung iba naman gusto lalo silang magalit sa BBL,” he said.

“As a nation, pahinga muna tayo ng kahit mga isang linggo muna [sa issue]. Palamig muna dahil sobrang init ng issue ngayon,” Gonzales added.

Aside from the House and Senate, among the bodies probing the incident are the Board of Inquiry formed by the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Human Rights and Department of Justice.

Asked if he would recommend the temporary suspension of the House’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident, Gonzales said: “Ang best scenario para sa amin talaga ay isa lang ang imbestigasyon on the part of the legislative and another one for the executive para hindi magulo. Mag-create na ng task force at pagsama-samahin ang pulis, military, DOJ kaysa ‘yung [kanya-kanya].”

Belmonte and Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon both proposed a joint congressional inquiry on the Mamasapano clash, but this was thumbed down by Senators Francis Escudero and Vicente Sotto III, saying it would take the two chambers longer to finish the hearings together. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News