Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — It’s all systems go for the reopening of the Mamasapano probe in the Senate on January 27.
The Mamasapano encounter left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos dead after a bloody clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Maguindanao.
On Monday afternoon (January 18), the Senate plenary upheld the decision of the Committee on Rules to reopen the hearing on the Mamasapano clash.
Senate President Franklin Drilon abstained from voting. Drilon is the Vice Chairman of the administration’s Liberal Party.
Senate Majority Floor Leader and Rules Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano explained – based on Senate rules – a hearing may be reopened if there were new matters that needed to be discussed.
Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile then stood up and addressed the matter once and for all.
Enrile said he also had evidence proving that on the day of the mission, President Benigno Aquino III was monitoring the operation while he was on his plane going to Zamboanga City.
Lastly, Enrile said he would also show evidence that some cabinet members, who appeared in the past Senate Mamasapano hearings, did not disclose the facts despite knowing what really happened and despite being under oath.
For her part, Senate Committee on Public Order Chairman Grace Poe asked the Committee on Rules for a copy of its decision on the reopening of the hearing
She said she agreed with Enrile’s call for transparency as he might have new information that could supplement her previous committee report.
Enrile said he had no special motive when he moved to reopen the Mamasapano probe. He said he only wanted the truth to come out and for the public to know if there were people lying to the nation.
