Poe:  Some executive session info on Mamasapano may be released to public

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe has said the Senate will determine whether there are information gleaned from its executive sessions on the Mamasapano clash that could be made public.

Poe made the statement on Wednesday as she noted that among the 24 resource persons who were invited to the Senate’s next hearing on the matter were the officials who had already given testimonies behind closed doors.

The Senate held executive sessions when it first investigated the deadly clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, between members of the police Special Action Force and Moro fighters, because of the sensitivity of the topics that were tackled.

Among those who had faced the senators there were former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas, Intelligence Group chief Fernando Mendez, and SAF member Raymund Train and Christopher Lalan.

“That is one of the things we would discuss, which information could be released from the executive session because some of them see no hindrance to making these public,” Poe told reporters.

The committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which she chairs, is scheduled to hold another hearing on the issue on January 27, upon the request of Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.

Enrile wanted to delve into President Aquino’s actions during the Mamasapano clash.

He alleged that the President knew that the police troopers were being slaughtered, but did nothing to help them.

Also invited to the probe are Malacañang officials, including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma.

Poe expressed hope the executive officials would show up to the hearing.

If they would send representatives instead, it would be up to the Senators to determine if they are acceptable replacements.

But if senators find the representatives inadequate, the hearing could last longer, she said.

She also hoped that the hearing could be concluded in one day, because only Enrile would ask more questions.

Enrile was detained for plunder for allegedly misusing his pork barrel funds when the Senate held its inquiry on the Mamasapano incident.

Poe said senators had agreed to give Enrile the time to ask questions during the January 27 hearing. Any follow up questions would not be that many, she noted.  SFM