Senate panel reopens Mamasapano probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Committee on Rules on Monday ruled to bring the committee report on the Jan. 25, 2015 tragedy in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to the committee level for additional hearing.

"The Committee (on Rules) hereby rules that there are no longer any obstacles to the return of the Committee Report No. 120 on the Mamasapano incident," Committee on Rules chair Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said.

On November 2015, Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier filed a motion to reopen the investigation of the Mamasapano incident.

Enrile said he wants to reopen the investigation at the committee level to ask questions regarding the government's actions during the encounter between the Special Action Force and Moro rebels a year ago.

He was detained when the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs conducted the Mamasapano probe early last year. Sen. Grace Poe, who heads the committee, agreed with Enrile's petition.

FULL TEXT: Senate panel's report on Mamasapano clash

The Senate Committee on Rules is set to reopen the investigation "without voiding the previous proceedings."

"If Committee Report No. 120 is returned to the relevant Senate committees with an assertion that there are new matters arising after the report, all previous proceedings subsist and are valid," Cayetano said.

Sens. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Sergio Osmeña III have earlier expressed support for Enrile's motion to reopen the Senate probe on the Mamasapano incident.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has set another hearing on the criminal charges against 90 commanders and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups tagged in the death of 44 SAF commandos.

DOCUMENT: PNP Board of Inquiry's Mamasapano Report
FULL TEXT: MILF report on the Mamasapano clash