House ‘circus’ due to anger, says solon

CRYING ‘HAVOC’ House members fall all over themselves during the congressional hearing on the SAF mission to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” in a botched operation that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines–Majority of the members of the House of Representatives may have lost their inclination to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the face of growing public outrage over the massacre of the trapped Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“I think [the] BBL is doomed. It will be very difficult for members to approve it knowing the public sentiment is against it,” said Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao.

The Isabela representative said his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, had proposed that the House defer the hearings on the BBL because “our members are livid with anger.”

Unlikely to be passed

“It is very, very unlikely that it will be passed in March. The Maguindanao incident really changed the equation, not only among congressmen but people from Luzon and the Visayas who were previously not paying attention to the BBL,” said Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat, who had earlier declared his opposition to the BBL.

According to Aggabao, the much-criticized, circus-like atmosphere in the House hearing on the Mamasapano massacre on Wednesday merely reflected the indignation of the members.

“Judging by the manner the hearing transpired, you can understand the public antipathy toward Congress. Once again, Congress ended up being the story rather than the investigation it is pursuing. But the probe is not a lot of noise at the expense of accomplishing anything of substance. Many members are genuinely outraged,” he said in a text message.

Espina’s outburst

Speaking at a press forum in Quezon City on Thursday, Lobregat said the odds of approving the BBL had become slimmer after public rage over the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) overkill of SAF commandos in Mamasapano.

Lobregat admitted that the emotional outburst of acting Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director Leonardo Espina at the Wednesday hearing had galvanized public anger at the BBL.

The congressman revealed that the meetings of the ad hoc committee on the BBL had become quite heated since the Mamasapano massacre as the lawmakers raised doubts about the MILF’s sincerity.

“An attempt to railroad the measure resulted in a heated debate. They wanted no discussion on proposed amendments,” Lobregat said.

Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe said the Senate should consider Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s proposal to hold a joint hearing with the House in order to avoid “Mamasapano probe fatigue.”

Bigger venue

“If we continue with multiple hearings with the same witnesses and testimonies, our people will get bored. Worse, we will be back to our apathetic selves again who will no longer care about what happened in Mamasapano,” said Batocabe.

If the Senate insists on conducting the hearings on its own, Batocabe said, the House should move its hearings to a bigger venue to accommodate the large number of lawmakers, resource persons, witnesses and their staff.

“As it is, the present venue is crowded, thereby resulting in a perception of a chaotic and disorderly hearing,” said Batocabe.

Criminal raps

Meanwhile, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rush the filing of criminal charges against the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) responsible for killing the SAF troops who were engaged in the valid pursuit of two high-value targets.

Gatchalian said that with the evidence against the killers of the SAF troopers, the DOJ would serve the public’s cry for justice by filing the charges as soon as possible.

Gatchalian noted that the lone 55th SAF survivor, sniper PO2 Christopher Lalan, had confirmed to the PNP board of inquiry that wounded SAF commandos were “finished off” by MILF and BIFF fighters instead being taken as prisoners.

“The DOJ can already use the affidavit of PO2 Lalan to file murder charges against those responsible for killing wounded SAF commandos who could have survived if they were given medical treatment by the MILF under international humanitarian law,” he said.

He said additional charges of robbery or theft should also be filed by the DOJ against the MILF and BIFF members who stripped the SAF of their firearms, gear and personal belongings.