MANILA, Philippines – The Senate investigation into the Maguindanao carnage should continue even after charges have been filed by the government against its prime suspect, Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., a senator said on Friday.

Instead of focusing on the crime, however, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas said the investigation by the chamber should try to find out the reasons why this barbaric act took place and how this could be prevented from happening again.

Roxas, along with Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, initiated the investigation at the Senate.

“The investigation for the filing of charges by the DoJ [Department of Justice] is for the crime itself. Yung imbestigasyon na gaganapin ng Senado ay yung mga dahilan kung bakit nangyari ito at kung papano, sa pamamagitan ng mga panibagong batas matutulungan natin ang mga imbestigador at matutulungan natin ang kapayapaan sa ating bansa [The investigation in the Senate will focus on the reasons as to why this happened and how, hopefully with new laws, we can help our investigators bring peace to our country],” Roxas told reporters.

Military commanders in the province, he said, should be summoned to explain why they allegedly turned down the security request by the victims, including a number of journalists, who were covering the filing of certificate of candidacy by Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu.

Mangudadatu is seeking the gubernatorial post in Maguindanao.

“Why did they turn down the request for assistance or request for escort? Who are these commanders? What is the deployment of the people there? Who are the interim commanders? Where do they ask for help? It’s possible that their loyalties are no longer with the Republic but with those who are helping these local politicians?” Roxas asked in Filipino.

“Lahat ito, aalamin natin [We will try to answer all of these questions] so that we can create the appropriate course or recommendations para matigilan na nga itong pag wa-warlord sa ating bansa [to stop warlordism in the country],” he added.

Roxas and Aquino, in a separate statement, demanded the following actions from the government:

1. The preventive suspension of Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., and all other local officials who will be charged in connection with the Maguindanao massacre;
2. The suspension of the local government’s control and authority over the local police force;
3. The immediate relief and replacement of all police officials and personnel in the province of Maguindanao;
4. The immediate revocation of Executive Order No. 546, which authorizes the Philippine National Police to deputize barangay tanods as force multipliers in the implementation of peace and order in local government units;
5. The immediate return of the Commission on Elections office.