‘No need for Mamasapano debates’

Sen. Grace Poe said there was no more need for plenary debates on the Mamasapano incident, saying it dealt mostly with facts and recommendations, not legislation.

Poe, who chairs the committee on public order and safety, said the report had been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the President, which can act on its proposals.

“It is a facts-and-findings report and is not an ordinary formatted legislation that can be debated in detail. In fact, it is recommendatory in terms of actions and policy directions,” Poe said in a text message.

Poe led the joint hearings on the incident involving the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The joint report of the committees on public order, finance, peace, unification and reconciliation found that President Aquino was ultimately responsible for the outcome of the Mamasapano mission, and that he bears responsibility for its outcome. It also recommended administrative cases against top Philippine National Police officials and several other courses of action.

The committees had submitted the report to the Office of the Ombudsman, which could act on recommendations against former PNP chief Alan Purisima and sacked SAF commander Getulio Napeñas, said Poe, who met with President Aquino twice in the past month to discuss political plans for next year’s election.

The report had said that Purisma could be liable for indirect contempt by the Ombudsman for “disobedience of or resistance to a lawful writ, process or order,” since he was suspended when he became involved in discussing the Mamasapano operation.