Enrile: Probe to unearth reason Aquino was in Zamboanga

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile plans to delve into the reason President Benigno Aquino III was in Zamboanga City on the day of the Mamasapano massacre on Jan. 25, 2015, when the Senate reopens its inquiry into the lingering issue.

In a radio interview, Enrile said he suspected the official reason given for Mr. Aquino’s presence in Zamboanga City was not the real one.

Enrile noted that Jan. 25 was the birthday of Mr. Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, and there was always a celebration.

The senator said it was puzzling that Mr. Aquino would leave behind the preparations for his mother’s birthday and fly to Zamboanga City to check on a bombing that killed two people and wounded more than 50 others when the bombing incident was over.

“There must have been an impelling reason why he went there and I suspect that his going there and using the bombing was only a cover-up of the true purpose of [his trip],” Enrile said.

“That will come out in my questioning,” he added.

Earlier reports had alleged that Mr. Aquino had flown to Zamboanga City to receive Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” who was to be arrested by police commandos that morning in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Instead, although they were able to kill Marwan, the commandos came under heavy Moro rebel fire, resulting in the death of 44 specially trained troopers.

A Malacañang official had denied Marwan was the reason for Mr. Aquino’s visit to Zamboanga City, insisting that it was to visit the car bombing victims.

The official said it made no sense for the President to go to Zamboanga City if he was expecting Marwan, since he could have gone directly to Cotabato City which is much closer.

Enrile sought the reopening of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano massacre, saying there were questions that had not been asked.

Enrile had been under detention in connection with plunder charges related to the P10-billion pork barrel scam. He is out on bail.

The Senate hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.