Duterte to create commission to probe Mamasapano massacre
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he would create a commission to investigate the botched Mamasapano operation, which killed 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.
Duterte said he would ask former Supreme Court justices and individuals from the civilian sector to compose the commission.
“I will create a commission of seven. I will appoint men of integrity and honor. Kung tanggapin nila (If they will accept it), I will choose mostly justices of the Supreme Court and few of the civilian sector, maybe a lawyer. Ayoko mag-recommend na kilala ko (I don’t want to recommend someone I know),” he said in a speech delivered a day before the second anniversary of the Mamasapano clash.
“They will be independent in all aspects. They are free to summon and as President, the Executive Department, I will order you to honor the process. We will bestow to the commission the powers exactly given to the Agrava commission, iyong panahon sa pagkamatay ng Aquino (During the time of Aquino’s death). Let us see,” he was referring to the board that investigated the death of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
He said the commission could ask the United States government about their participation and find out where reward money went.
“Maybe I will just give them—ready naman lahat iyan, nandiyan na iyong papel (everything is ready, the papers are present)—at the end of the year then we can have the truth,” he said. RAM/rga
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