House leadership wants end to Mamasapano probe

House speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. wants the House of Representatives to wrap up its probe on the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, so that hearings on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) could resume.

In an ambush interview, Belmonte said there was no need for another hearing once lawmakers finish the executive sessions on the operational disaster that killed 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians.

“I don’t think we need another hearing. We have executive sessions today partly because of what we’ve planned to do,” the Speaker said.

The chamber conducted the first of the executive sessions on Tuesday and discussed the involvement of the United States in the operation that killed international terrorist Zulkilfi Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and the lack of coordination between the SAF and the military.

Lawmakers are not allowed to divulge discussions in executive sessions.

As agreed, the hearings on the BBL will resume April 20 after discussions on the proposed legislation were suspended due to the involvement of the MILF in the killing of the SAF men, Belmonte said.

“At the end of this, as per agreements, the BBL committee can proceed with their hearings,” Belmonte said.

The chamber is investigating the bloody incident that threatened the passage of the Bangsamoro bill, which seeks to create a new autonomous region in Mindanao to be led by the MILF.

Among those who attended today’s executive session are former SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas, Philippine National Police officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.