Roxas to show up at reopening of Mamasapano probe–LP

The Liberal Party on Friday assured the public that its standard-bearer and former Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas will show up in the reopening of the Mamasapano probe to “fulfill his responsibility as a citizen of the country.”

LP spokesperson and Akbayan Partylist Rep. Barry Gutierrez said in an interview that Roxas will not hesitate to attend the reinvestigation on the debacle which is considered one of the biggest challenges the Aquino administration faced.

“Siya kahit kelan hindi natakot, kahit kelan hindi umatras, kahit kelan hindi nagkaroon ng hesitation sa pagharap kung siya ay ipapatawag (Roxas has not been afraid, has not backed out, didn’t hesitate [to face a Senate probe] if summoned),” he added.

Roxas was kept out of the loop by President Aquino, then suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP Special Action Force chief and now senatorial aspirant Getulio Napeñas during the planning of “Oplan Exodus.”

That operation, executed on January 25 last year, resulted in the death of more than 60 people, including 44 members of the PNP-SAF.

Despite being bypassed, Roxas defended Aquino and cleared the President of any liability over the tragic police operation contrary to the findings of the Senate committee that investigated the incident.

The Senate committee on public order, in a report read by committee chair Senator Grace Poe in a press conference last March, said Aquino was “ultimately responsible” for the Mamasapano tragedy.

“Kahit na hindi na siya miyembro ng gabinete, hindi na siya Interior Secretary, bilang isang mamamayan, responsibilidad mo na kung ikaw ay ipapatawag ng Senado sa imbestigasyon, siyempre haharap ka (Even if you’re no longer a member of the cabinet, no longer Interior Secretary, it is your responsibility as a citizen to face a Senate investigation when summoned),” he said.