House denies Aquino cover-up in suspending Mamasapano probe

Update

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives leadership denied protecting President Benigno Aquino III who is facing public backlash over the Mamasapano incident when the chamber suspended the congressional probe into the clash that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members dead.

In a press conference Tuesday, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House, long dominated by presidential allies, need not protect Aquino.

The chamber had suspended its probe on the carnage upon the prodding of the leadership, saying it should await the results of the police investigation on the incident.

Belmonte said he as Speaker is only protecting the chamber following netizens’ criticisms of the lawmakers’ unruly conduct during the Mamasapano inquiry.

The House hearing last Wednesday on the Jan. 25 ill-fated anti-terror raid started in disarray and ended in utter disorder.

Lawmakers, particularly those whose constituents were among the fallen SAF 44, turned emotional and may have lost their inclination to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the face of growing public outrage over the massacre.

“I don’t think the President needs any protecting. He has his own people. Ako, I am only after the House, the assigned area to me,” Belmonte said.

During the inquiry, militant lawmakers were eager in questioning Aquino’s role in the disastrous counter-terror raid. Aquino was accused of breaking the chain of command by authorizing the covert operation to capture two terrorists with then suspended police chief Alan Purisima allegedly calling the shots.

Although the President has admitted accountability for the tragedy, he has washed his hands and blamed sacked Special Action Force commander Getulio Napenas for failing to coordinate with authorities.

Act Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio confirmed with military and police officials that Aquino texted them to provide the “best efforts” in rescuing the SAF members, an indication that the President knew the mission.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares had also questioned resigned police chief Alan Purisima’s refusal to divulge his communications with the President about the attack. Purisima invoked executive privilege.

“Let me assure you, I did not know Purisima was asked that question or made that answer, certainly he should have answered that question forthrightly, whatever it is. We are all searching for the truth here,” Belmonte said of Purisima’s behavior during the probe.

Belmonte said the suspension will only last two weeks as the Board of Inquiry only requested that period in finishing its own investigation. He added that the House will resume its probe two weeks from now with or without the BOI report.

He said the BOI report will prove useful for the House when it resumes its investigation.

“(The suspension) was a form of being more efficient, instead of one guy begin grilled by all people… The BOI report will save us so much time,” Belmonte said.

When asked if the suspension of the Mamasapano inquiry was essentially a move to gag outraged lawmakers’ concerns, Belmonte said: “Anybody can make comment. The Speaker is not gagging anybody.”

In a separate press conference, Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said the House leadership made the smart move to suspend the chamber’s hearings because they cannot make sound judgments under an emotional atmosphere.

“It’s a call of the leadership. Personally, I thought it was a deft move of the House leadership… The atmosphere is not conducive to a very circumspect discussion on a matter that is sensitive,” said Aggabao, a senior official of an administration ally the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

The House leader said there is no issue if the committee succumbed to the call of the leadership without consulting with its committee members.

“It would have been perfectly within his right to altogether halt the investigation,” Aggabao said.

Liberal Party member Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said the House suspension was not meant to hide any possible accountability of the administration.

“The suspension, I don’t think it’s designed to cover up. It’s not the intention for the leadership. Precisely, because ang dami nang investigation, nalilito na ang tao,” Evardone said.

Colmenares lamented the “cover-up” in the House only because the chamber is getting at the President’s involvement in the operation.

“The House has a different tact. We’re not only focused as the MILF, we are also focused on the Aquino’s responsibility,” he said.