President Benigno S. Aquino III along with former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo and DILG Secretary Senen Sarmiento are prayed over by Bishop Francisco Santos and Bishop Jonel MIlan during the Thanksgiving Celebration and National Transformation Assembly of the Tarlac First Baptist Church. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate Majority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said he had questions to ask Mar Roxas and other resource persons when the Senate probe on the Mamasapano incident reopens on Jan. 25.
“I’m going to ask them questions,” said the opposition leader, who said he wanted Mar Roxas to attend the reinvestigation. Roxas, the standard bearer of the administration in next year’s presidential election, was secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government when the incident happened.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s a candidate, I’m not going to deal with his candidacy. I’m going to ask about performance of duty while you’re in office,” Enrile said. “I’m not trying anybody in public,” he added.
The veteran lawmaker refused to reveal what he wanted Roxas to answer.
“Hindi ko sasabihin sa inyo yung mga tatanungin ko. (I won’t tell you what I am going to ask) I hope you understand my position,” Enrile said.
Further denying the claims of President Benigno Aquino III that politics was behind in the reopening of the investigation on the operation where 44 members of the police Special Action Force were killed, he said, “I am not the errand boy of anybody.”
He also thumbed down proposals for senators running in the May 2016 elections like Senator Grace Poe to inhibit from the hearing.
Poe, who is running for president, is leading the investigation as chair of the Senate committee on public order.
“Kalokohan yan, walang grandstanding dito. Sila ang namumulitika, dinidiskurso nila na may motibo kami na masama. E di kung may motibo kami na masama, ipakita nila. Sagutin nila itong mga tatanungin ko. I will challenge them to answer the questions,” Enrile said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.
“Bakit sila mag-inhibit trabaho nila yun e. Are they saying that because they are running for public office that they can’t be trusted anymore, they can’t perform they work impartially? Oh come on. You are not worthy of the trust of the people if you’re like that,” he said.
Enrile also assured Roxas of fair treatment during the hearing.
Asked again if Roxas could expect a non-partisan conduct of the Mamasapano probe, Enrile said: “Wala akong sa pulitika. Kung manalo sya, well and good . Hindi ko isasama yang mga bagay na yan, sinasabi ko na sa inyo, I’m no longer a politician. I’m only serving the country, I’m not the errand boy of anybody.” (MNS)