Relatives and supporters of the SAF 44, members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who were killed during the Mamasapano clash, march along EDSA on Sunday. The march turned out to be a solemn memorial honoring the troopers who died on January 25. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe said Friday President Benigno Aquino III should not and cannot be compelled to attend the reopening of the Mamasapano probe next week.
“Ang Pangulo ay mayroong immunity. Hindi naman natin siya pwedeng pilitin na dumalo sa ganitong pagdinig,” Poe said in a press statement.
However, if the President would give an affidavit, it can be used by the committee.
“Siguro kung magkakaroon ng affidavit ang ating Pangulo na sinumpaan din, pwedeng gamitin ito na basehan,” she said.
Poe heads the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs which conducted the probe on the Mamasapano operation which led to the death of 44 Special Action Force commandos last year.
The probe will be reopened on January 27 upon the request of Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.
Poe called on invited resource persons to attend the hearing but also warned returning resource persons that they would be held liable if found to have withheld information that they already had during the series of hearings and executive sessions last year.
“Ang puno’t dulo ng pagdinig na ito ay para malaman kung ano talaga ang nangyari. Dapat boluntaryo na nilang ibinigay kung ano man ang nalalaman nila. Kaya hindi rin ako bilib sa mga nagsasabi na, ‘e, depende sa tanong’,” she said.
She added: “E kung mayroon pa palang kulang, sila na mismo dapat ang boluntaryong nagsabi niyan nung nag-executive session kami.”
The senator said there is a need to put to rest, once and for all, all issues surrounding the ill-fated operation.
The sooner the Mamasapano investigation is over, the sooner everyone can move on, she added.
At least 24 resource persons, most of them officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), have been invited for the re-opening of the investigation.
The list includes Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, former AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang, retired PNP chief Alan Purisima, and former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas.
Poe encouraged all resource persons to attend voluntarily and not wait for the committee to issue them a subpoena as it will only prolong the process.
“Hinihikayat ko lahat ng inimbitahan at pinadalahan namin ng liham na dumalo para mas mabilis na natin matapos ito. Kung hindi sila dumalo, mas matatagalan sapagkat baka ipatawag sila muli sa isa na namang pagdinig,” she said.
“Alam naman natin na matagal na itong sugat na ito na napakabagal din maghilom. Ang paglalahad ng kanilang nalalaman ay isang proseso para pagalingin na rin natin lahat ng mga hinanaing at sakit natin,” she added.
Malacanang earlier assured the public that the government officials invited to the probe will be present.
“The government will heed the invitation of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs and reply to all pertinent questions that may be asked at the hearing in the interest of transparency and public accountability,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a text message to reporters.
Poe said senators have agreed to give the floor to Enrile citing new information that would directly link Aquino to the operation that killed 44 SAF commandos.
Enrile was in detention for plunder during the Mamasapano hearings last year.
“Para sa interes din nating lahat na matanong niya ang sabi niyang hindi pa natatanong para naman malaman natin kung mayroon ngang pagkukulang. Ang pakay natin dito ay maisaayos ang batas na huwag na maulit ang ganitong klaseng trahedya at magkaroon naman ng hustisya ang mga biktima,“Poe said.
The senator reiterated confidence that everything has been covered in the public hearings last year as she stood by the committee report signed by 21 senators. (MNS)