The militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has asked the leadership to invite President Benigno Aquino III in the inquiry of the lower chamber on the botched Mamasapano operation.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. sent Monday, the seven-member bloc said the President needed to attend the House probe on April 7 and 8 because only he could explain his role in the antiterror raid.
The solons listed 20 questions for the President to answer. (See attached letter)
In a text message, Belmonte said it was “highly unlikely to call” the President on the probe, but the chamber “would welcome any statement on the event from him.”
The solons said the President needed to explain himself after two reports – one by the police Board of Inquiry (BOI) and the other by the Senate – revealed that Aquino bypassed the police chain of command and was ultimately responsible in the operation.
Calls for the President to attend the probe were rooted in his knowledge of the operation named “Oplan Exodus” that cost the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and five civilians.
He has washed his hands of responsibility and instead put the blame on SAF commander Getulio Napeñas, whom he said failed to obey his orders to coordinate with the military early on to send reinforcements.
The BOI in its report said Aquino bypassed the police chain of command when he authorized Napeñas and resigned police chief Alan Purisima on the operation despite the latter’s suspension over corruption, while keeping acting police chief Leonardo Espina in the dark.
“The President exercised his prerogative to deal directly with Napeñas instead of PNP officer in charge Leonardo Espina… and while (he) has the prerogative to deal directly with any of his subordinates, the act of dealing with Napeñas instead of PNP OIC Espina bypassed the established PNP chain of command,” the report said
Meanwhile, the Senate panel led by Senator Grace Poe found Aquino “ultimately responsible” because of his giving assent to authorize suspended Purisima, his long-time friend.
“The President must bear responsibility for giving assent to and failing to prevent the unlawful exercise of official functions of Purisima in connection with Oplan Exodus,” the Senate report said.
“In light of the findings of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Safety and the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry, it is necessary for the House of Representatives to investigate further into significant issues but not completely resolved by the said bodies,” the letter signed by Act Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio and Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap read.
The militant solons also wanted to ask the President to explain the alleged role of the United States in the operation meant to take down international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and his deputy local bombmaker Basit Usman.
The Senate report said the operation was not 100 percent planned by Filipinos, citing an instance of an American ordering a military official to fire the artillery during the operation.
Meanwhile, the BOI said at least six American nationals were at the SAF command center hours before the elite cops swooped on Mamasapano town in Maguinanao last Jan. 25.
“(The) issues are, namely, the knowledge and participation of President Aquino and the extent of the intervention of the United States. An analysis of both the Senate and BOI reports will lead to the conclusion that it is only the President himself who will be able to shed light on these matters,” the letter read.
Besides the Speaker, copies of the letter were also sent to Representatives Jeffrey Ferrer and Jim Hataman-Salliman, who respectively chair the House public order and safety as well as the peace, reconciliation and unity committees both of which will conduct the joint probe.
Read a copy of the letter below: