Enrile seeks reopening of Mamasapano probe

WITH the Senate about to tackle the proposed 2016 national budget in plenary, Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday moved that the Mamasapano investigation be reopened at the committee level.

Enrile said he wanted to ask questions and finally put the issue to rest, particularly about what the government did when the bloody encounter between elite Special Action Force commandos and Moro rebels was taking place.

Sen. Grace Poe, who headed the Mamasapano hearings as chair of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said she had no objection to Enrile’s motion.

“This is specially because of the fact that new matters and perspectives are in the possession or may be raised by Senator Enrile, and his inability to participate during the five public hearings we conducted in February and March on the Mamasapano issue,” Poe said.

But she also said she stood by the draft report of her committee.

Poe then asked the Senate leadership to apprise her of the effect of Senate Rule No. 32 on the reopening of the Mamasapano probe.

The Senate rule states: “When a report is returned to a committee or is transmitted to another, unless it is returned for purposes of conducting further public hearings on new matters arising after the report, all previous proceedings in connection therewith shall be deemed to be void and that matter in question shall revert to its original status.”

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the matter of the effect of Senate Rule No. 32 would be tackled by the committee on rules, which would be given one week to come up with a decision.