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–Rather than risk another circus, the House of Representatives has decided to indefinitely suspend its parallel probe of the Mamasapano massacre.
Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II announced the cancellation of the House hearings planned for Tuesday and Wednesday as leaders of the chamber scrambled to avoid becoming the nation’s laughingstock after its members were criticized for their loud, disorderly conduct during their initial hearing last week.
House leaders said they decided to defer their investigation until the board of inquiry (BOI) had submitted the results of its own probe on the death of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers during a clash with Moro rebels on Jan. 25.
Gonzalez announced the cancellation minutes after allied party leaders, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., decided it was more prudent to freeze the House probe, one of nine investigations being conducted on the Mamasapano incident.
The House leaders relayed their decision to Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman Salliman, chair of the committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.
“There are already too many probes. We will just wait for the BOI,” Salliman said.
More orderly
Gonzalez said the House leaders believed the suspension would allow the two House committees that would handle the investigation to ensure a more orderly probe.
Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao heaved a sigh of relief on the “wise decision” of the House leaders.
“It is just as well that the hearings are suspended,” Aggabao said. “It is extremely difficult to take the testimonies and require disclosure of facts from invited guests in an atmosphere that is less than staid.”
Some lawmakers saw something else behind the decision to postpone the House inquiry.
“This has the fingerprints of Malacañang all over it and part of the damage control of the Palace to save President Aquino from accountability,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.
“The Filipino people want to hear the whole truth on the Mamasapano incident,” Colmenares added. “So far, the probes, both in the Senate and in the House, point to President Aquino as the most accountable for the botched (Mamasapano) operation.”
Inflame public anger
Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said he had been looking forward to today’s hearing. He said the committee chairs—Salliman and Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer—had learned their lessons from the first hearing and were likely to be more forceful in making sure every member would behave.
“I was hoping for a continuous hearing, subject to coordination with the Senate for the availability of witnesses and resource persons,” Tupas said.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the House leaders were acting on reports that some “elements” belonging to the past administration were using the House hearing to further “inflame” the public’s indignation over the death of the SAF troops.
“It’s obvious from their line of questioning and from their imprudent desire to show the video of the brutal killing of the SAF commando on national television,” Erice said.
He was referring to a video showing how one of the supposed rebel gunmen shot a bleeding commando in the head to finish him off.
No comparison
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon supported the decision to shelve the probe until the executive department had acted on the matter.
“This is a human resource management problem (and it) is the jurisdiction of the executive department to correct it and impose sanctions if necessary,” Biazon said.
Salliman and Ferrer presided over the first hearing last week. They labored to keep disorderly members from arguing among themselves and talking at the same time during the seven-hour hearing.
He said it was unfair to compare the senators’ demeanor during their own probe with the chaotic atmosphere in the House because there were fewer senators compared to representatives.
Closed session
Salliman said more than 100 representatives wanted to ask questions during the hearing but only 20 could be accommodated.
Gonzalez himself admitted it was impossible to keep the emotions of 100 House members, especially in front of live television audience.
He said that had the hearings been done in an executive session with no cameras, the members would have likely acted more sober and avoided shouting at each other.
Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said it was understandable that netizens had described the House investigators as a bunch of buffoons.
“It’s not easy controlling over 100 congressmen all eager to have their say on an emotional topic,” Bello said in a text message. Bello, mercifully, did not participate in the meeting.
More tears, anger
Bello said the House hearing was a “microcosm of society and its behavior reflected the conflicting feelings roiling the country.”
“To expect the committee to display the usual low-key, courteous behavior was unrealistic given the high emotions running through society today. I expect more tears and anger at the next meeting,” he said.
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