MANILA, Philippines?Questions are being raised over Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo?s membership in the committee investigating the Aug. 23 hostage crisis in view of his own role in the bungled rescue operation.

And Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who chairs the committee on public order and illegal drugs, on Saturday said these questions were ?valid.?

?But let the results speak for themselves,? Honasan told the Inquirer by phone. ?That is a very sensitive issue. Our objective is to avoid interfering with the [Incident Investigation and Review Committee, or IIRC]. Its composition is [its] prerogative.?

Honasan also commended Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the chair of the five-person IIRC, saying she was ?moderating [the hearings] quite satisfactorily.?

Because the Philippine National Police is under the administrative supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Robredo has come under fire for allegedly mishandling the hostage situation.

He later explained that President Benigno Aquino had assigned Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno to handle PNP matters at the department, and that he preferred to concentrate on local governments.

The President announced on Friday that he was taking full responsibility for the hostage crisis.

But Sen. Pia Cayetano on Saturday said that while Mr. Aquino?s statement was welcome, the investigation of the other involved officials should continue.

?Ultimately, only [a] swift and credible investigation will allow us to make a full accounting of the incident, including the responsibility of officials who had a more direct hand in dealing with the crisis,? Cayetano said in a statement.

Honasan said his committee on public information and mass media would start looking into the hostage crisis on Tuesday.

Apparently to avoid duplicating the IIRC?s work, he said the Senate effort would concentrate on the media?s role in the hostage crisis.