Joint congressional probe for Mamasapano carnage pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon pushed yesterday for the holding of a joint congressional inquiry into the Mamasapano incident even as the separate probe in the House of Representatives was marked by heated arguments and emotional pleas.

Biazon made the call as the House committees on peace and order, and peace, reconciliation and unity started their inquiry into the botched operation that left 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force dead.

He said there is a need to merge the investigations in the Senate and the House to prevent the wasting of time and resources of government officials summoned by either chamber.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. last week also asked Senate President Franklin Drilon to agree to a joint inquiry to save time and not hamper investigations conducted by various agencies in the executive branch.

Biazon said all top officials of the PNP, the Armed Forces as well as Cabinet members are occupied with attending hearings in both chambers.

He cited the case of Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, who has been absent from his post in Zamboanga City to attend the hearings.

“What if something happens there? Are we not taking away these officials from their primary functions?” Biazon said.

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said he would try to communicate with the Senate leadership to join their investigations.

“Senate President Drilon said he will consult with his colleagues but they proceeded with their investigation, so I think that’s their response to our request,” Gonzales said.

Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, chairman of the peace and order panel, said the panel could proceed on its own if the Senate rejects Biazon’s proposal, as its line of questioning would be markedly different from those of the senators.