MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano grilled the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday over his role in the January 25 Mamasapano operation.
Sen. Alan Cayetano . SENATE PHOTO
During the hearing of the Commission on Appointments’ committee on national defense, Cayetano asked Pangilinan about his decision not to fire artillery support during the operation supposedly because of the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The same issue was brought up during the Senate investigation on the incident.
But Pangilinan reiterated that the peace process did not come to his mind during the incident.
“It did not come to my mind that it will derail the peace process,” he said.
Cayetano also asked the commander about the US’ involvement in the operation, in particular, if the Americans provided intelligence report about the operation.
“I was not informed your honor,” the commander said.
“During that time your honors, I’m not aware of any intelligence report coming from the Americans, your honor,” he said.
Pangilinan though confirmed that an American ordered him to fire the artillery during the operation as stated in a Senate draft report of its investigation on the incident.
He , however, refused to give further details on the incident, saying he could only discuss it in an executive session.
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