Mamasapano probe: Lie-detector test for Mangahis, Del Rosario mulled

THE House of Representatives investigation into the Mamasapano debacle is mulling a move to subject two uniformed officials to a lie-detector test after they gave different accounts about the Special Action Force’s (SAF) call for help at the height of the gunbattle.

The move for a polygraph test was proposed by ACT-CIS  Representative Samuel Pagdilao to determine who between the two men – SAF Supt. Michael John Mangahis and 1^st Mechanized Brigade commander Col. Gener Del Rosario – is not telling the truth.

During the chamber’s probe Wednesday into the botched “Operation Exodus” in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, Mangahis disputed Del Rosario’s claim that the SAF did not give the Army the exact locations of the commandos who were under heavy fire from Moro rebels.

Del Rosario said although Mangahis sent a request for artillery support, he could not give the details of the SAF men’s locations.

Mangahis also claimed that Del Rosario kept mentioning the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a consideration before sending support. The MILF, which was accused of coddling Marwan in its territory, was engaged in the 12-hour gunbattle with the SAF commandos despite a standing ceasefire agreement.

Mangahis then told Del Rosario: “Man up, sir, man up.”

“The people of the Republic of the Philippines deserve to know the truth and we are duty bound to know the truth. This is our opportunity to get to the bottom of the truth of this,” Pagdilao said during the hearing.

But the move was opposed by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, who said subjecting resource persons to lie-detector test or a polygraph test would be a bad precedent in the chamber and scare future resource persons.

“Based on our experience, in the course of our investigation, there are always conflicting testimonies. The remedy to undergo polygraph would be a violation of their constitutional rights,” Barzaga said.

The House joint probe deferred its decision for the lie detector test.

The chamber is investigating the debacle that threatened the passage of the Bangsamoro bill due to the involvement of the MILF in the attack against the SAF. The bill seeks to implement the government’s peace deal with the MILF for a politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity.

The antiterror raid succeeded in killing international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan but ended in the killing of 44 SAF commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians. AC