Roxas, Gazmin leaving House’s Mamasapano probe early

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Wednesday said he will leave early the House of Representatives probe on the Mamasapano clash for a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang.

The Cabinet official said he will leave by 12 noon with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin for a meeting.

He vowed that the probe intends to ferret out the truth in honor of the 44 slain elite cops.

“Walang duda nagpapasalamat ang sambayanan sa Special Action Force (SAF). Walang duda ang kakayahan katapangan at kagitingan ng SAF. Nandito tayo hindi para kwestiyunin ang kanilang kadakilaan kundi para malaman ang katotohanan,” he said.

(Undoubtedly, the nation is thankful to the Special Action Force. There is no questioning SAF’s skills, bravery and valor. We are here not to question their greatness, but to know the truth.)

Gazmin also said the probe would brush away “unfounded speculations on who should be accountable.”

The House, like the Senate, is conducting its investigation on the botched operation intended to capture two terrorists but which ended in the killing of 44 members of the Special Action Force.

Allegations were raised that President Aquino authorized the operation with now resigned police chief Alan Purisima while keeping Roxas, Gazmin and other police officials in the dark.

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