House to resume Mamasapano probe in May

The House of Representatives is set to resume its investigation into the bloody Jan. 25 Mamasapano police operation when Congress resumes session on May 4.

 

House committee on public order and safety chair Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer said he decided to proceed with the probe since the panel has already received a copy of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry’s (PNP BOI) report on the incident.

 

“The reason why we postponed the hearing was to wait for the BOI report. Since it was already received by the committee [and copies] have been reproduced for the members to review and study, then we will resume the hearings,” Ferrer told reporters Wednesday.

 

Ferrer, however, has yet to set a definite date for the hearing. "For sure we will resume the hearings." 

 

The House committees on public order and safety, and peace, reconciliation and unity have shelved their joint investigation into the Mamasapano incident after conducting a single hearing last Feb. 11 pending the BOI’s submission of its report.

 

120 signatures

 

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier said he is open to reviving the House’s investigation “if there are any specific points that need to be raised” by lawmakers even after reviewing the BOI and Senate’s reports on the controversial police operation.

 

Over 60 individuals, including 44 Special Action Force commandos, died during the covert police operation to arrest high-profile terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

 

Earlier in the day, House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said the petition initiated by their bloc to resume hearings on the police operation has garnered 120 of their colleagues’ signatures, with a considerable number of  lawmakers from the minority bloc signing the document.

 

“We have about 120 signatures. Obviously, since there are just 19 members of the minority, more than 100 of those who signed came from the majority,” he said.

 

Zamora said his colleagues in the majority might have been convinced to join the call for the resumption of the Mamasapano hearings in the House because they want to find the truth about the police operation.

 

“Clearly, in our issues-based approach, a lot of the majority are joining us. That goes beyond politics or number. This goes to their basic sense of justice, transparency, and accountability,” he said.

 

Proper decorum

 

Ferrer, however, maintained the rise in the number of lawmakers who have signed the petition did not influence his decision to call for the resumption of the hearing.

 

To ensure proper decorum at the hearings, the lawmaker said he will discourage his colleagues from talking about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law during the proceedings. 

 

"Sasabihin ko let’s not talk about thhe BBL because there’s a venue for that. Yung focus natin is what happened, what went wrong. Yung first hearing, halo-halo eh. May BBL, may peace process. Nalilito ang mga manonood eh. We should follow proper decorum,” he said.

 

The House had been criticized by netizens and the public for the “circus-like” atmosphere during its lone hearing on the Mamasapano clash, with House members exchanging heated words and passionate objections from start to finish. — RSJ, GMA News