No sacred cows in Senate Mamasapano report, says Poe

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines–There will be no sacred cows in the report of the Senate committees that investigated the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash, Sen. Grace Poe said on Wednesday.

Poe gave the assurance to the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed in the clash with Moro rebels who went to the Senate to listen to the privilege speech of Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on the Mamasapano incident.

“Our report will be fair, but will not protect any of those responsible. We will not hide the truth, as much depends on our report,” said Poe, chair of the committee on public order that led the Mamasapano inquiry.

Poe expressed hope that the families’ confidence in the Senate would strengthen after reading the report.

Submitted next week

Poe said she would submit the report to the Senate next week, adding that it was based on five public hearings, five executive sessions and 73 hours of full discussion attended by 37 resource persons and agencies, and more than 4,300 documents.

She acknowledged that the families wanted justice for their loved ones and that while the Senate had no power to punish or jail people, the chamber could recommend it.

After her assurances, Poe went to the VIP gallery where the families were seated to shake hands and talked with them.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara also spoke on the floor, saying they recognized the sacrifice made by the SAF commandos and praising their courage.

Help for SAF families

Drilon also announced that the Senate would extend P5.1 million in financial assistance to the families of the 44 slain SAF commandos, the 15 troopers wounded and the 15 survivors.

Drilon said the Senate would remit on Thursday P100,000 in financial assistance to the bank accounts of the families.

He said the Senate would also extend P30,000 to the 15 wounded SAF troopers and P20,000 to the 15 other survivors.

Reacting to the financial assistance of the Senate, Nicky Nacino Sr., father of slain PO2 Nicky Nacino Jr., said that while they would accept the financial help, they did not go the Senate for financial assistance but for justice.

“We want to have justice for our dead loved ones,” Nacino told reporters.

On Poe’s assurance that there would be no whitewash in the Senate investigation, Nacino said that they hoped she would make good her promise.