Palace: Congress must probe alleged US role in Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is leaving it to Congress to investigate the alleged role of the United States in the botched anti-terrorism operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

"Mainam na masiyasat sa mga pagdinig sa Kongreso ang mga alegasyon at magbigay din ng impormasyon ang mga nagpapahayag sa media," Presidential Communications Operations Office Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to Palace reporters.

Coloma was reacting to reports that the US funded the January 25 operation by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and his Filipino cohort, Basit Usman.

The latest report said the US provided training, logistics and intelligence to the SAF troopers, 44 of whom were killed in an armed encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The Senate and the House of Representatives started last week their respective inquiries into the incident to determine who should be held accountable for the SAF troopers' deaths.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon had claimed that the US is behind the SAF operation and is responsible for the deaths of the police commandos.

Ridon cited secret embassy cables leaked by WikiLeaks in 2010 which reveal the supposed financial help provided by the US to the Philippines' counter-terrorism efforts.

READ: Wikileaks shows US funded Mamasapano operation - solon