Enrile wants Mamasapano hearings reopened in the Senate soon

“Terrorist bomber” Zulkifli bin Hir, aka “Marwan,” is seen dead in this photo taken during the Jan. 25, 2015 operations of the Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.  Forty-four SAF commandos were killed in the mission in an ensuing encounter with Moro rebels and gunmen.  CONTRIBUTED PHOTO PUBLISHED IN INQUIRER ON JAN. 30.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — With the Senate plenary busy tackling the proposed 2016 budget soon, Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile has asked that the Mamasapano encounter be reopened at the committee level.

Enrile said on Monday he wanted to ask more questions about the ill-fated gun battle in order to put closure to the issue, particularly about what the government was actually doing when the encounter between police commandos and Moro rebels were taking place.

Sen. Grace Poe, who led 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 especially with the fact that new matters and perspectives are in the possession or may be raised by Senator. Ponce Enrile, and his inability to participate during the five public hearings we conducted in February and March of this year on the Mamasapano issue,” Poe said.

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

She also asked the Senate leadership to apprise her of the effect of a particular Senate rule, rule 32, on the reopening of the Mamasapano probe.

The rule in question 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 the rule 32 would be tackled by the Senate committee on rules, which would be given one week to come up with its decision. SFM