Palace: PNoy already answered solons' 20 questions on Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has answered most of the 20 questions listed by members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives regarding the Mamasapano incident, Malacañang claimed on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda downplayed the lawmakers' questions to Aquino, saying these have been asked before.

"If anyone looks at the questions posed by the Makabayan bloc, most of them have been responded one way or the other by the President," Lacierda told Palace reporters.

"The question is: 'Ba't niyo tinatanong ulit?' Siguro you're not… You don't want the answers the president gave, one reason, or you are not satisfied with the president's statement or there is a line that you want the president to state, to say," Lacierda added.

In a letter to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., the Makabayan bloc insisted on Tuesday that Aquino should be invited to the House probe on the Mamasapano incident on April 7 and 8.

The Makabayan lawmakers listed 20 questions for Aquino to answer. Most of the queries were focused on the role of Aquino's longtime friend, resigned police chief Director General Alan Purisima, in the planning and execution of the Special Action Force operation on January 25.

READ: 20 questions for Noy

The lawmakers would like to know why Aquino allowed Purisima's participation even if the latter was then under the Ombudsman's preventive suspension over corruption allegations.

They also want Aquino to reveal what he discussed with Purisima after the briefing on the Mamasapano mission on January 9 in Malacañang.

But the Palace said the president and his spokespersons have divulged "in a number of occasion" the role of Purisima in the Mamasapano operation.

"In fact, in his meeting with the congressmen here in the Palace, [the president] already stated the role of General Purisima. He wants those questions recorded as part of in aid of legislation," Lacierda said.

He added that Aquino also gave his consent to a Senate request concerning the release of the transcription of his SMS conversations with Purisima in the early hours of January 25.

Aquino had explained that he tapped Purisima for the planning of the Mamasapano mission because he had valuable information on the background of previous operations against terror suspects Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman.

The police Board of Inquiry report on the Mamasapano incident said Aquino broke the chain of command when he dealt with Purisima.

The Senate report on the Mamasapano incident also said Aquino must bear responsibility for allowing Purisima's unlawful exercise of official functions in connection with the Mamasapano mission.