PNoy spokespersons reject Enrile’s Mamasapano debate challenge

Malacañang on Monday rejected Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile's debate challenge to President Benigno Aquino III on the Mamasapano incident.

Enrile, who had accused Aquino of shielding himself from responsibility and accountability over the deaths of 44 police commandos in the Mamasapano mission, issued the debate challenge over the weekend. “Lalampasuhin n'ya ako o lalamapasuhin ko siya,” the opposition senator said.

Enrile said if Aquino doesn’t take up the challenge, the chief executive could ask to be substituted by his alter-egos, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. and Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.

Lacierda said there was no need for a debate on the Mamasapano mission.

“Perhaps, the results of the Senate reopening of the Mamasapano should speak for itself,” Lacierda said.

“All that were needed to be asked by the senators have been asked. All that were needed to be answered by the resource persons have been responded to,” he added.

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that handles the Mamasapano probe, earlier said there was nothing new presented during last week’s hearing on the Mamasapano tragedy. It was Enrile who sought the reopening of the Senate probe.

Coloma said Enrile was already given a chance by the Senate committee to present his arguments before the public.

“Senator Enrile has had the opportunity to present his case. It is best that our people focus their energies instead on how to sustain the momentum of our reform and transformation efforts that have gained the respect and admiration of the global community,” he said in a text message.

The Mamasapano incident resulted in the killing of more than 60 people, including five civilians and fighters of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that ambushed Special Action Force (SAF) members in Baranga Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015.

Several SAF teams were sent to Mamasapano to neutralize high-profile Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan. The SAF members were on the extraction phase when they were ambushed by Moro fighters. —ALG, GMA News