Senators Miriam Santiago and Grace Poe at the Senate Mamasapano hearing. Photographed by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon.com
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday urged the Senate committee on public order to also investigate the possible involvement of the United States in the implementation of Oplan Exodus that resulted in the death of 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
In a press conference after she attended the hearing, Santiago said the investigation into possible US participation in the military fiasco should be given highest priority since it was tantamount to exercising the powers of sovereignty of our country.
"Investigate the intervention of the US government so we can know how much intervention took place and at what level it took place, such as they are already exercising the power of sovereignty of our country," Santiago said.
Santiago rejected the contention made by the US government that their intervention was limited to offering rewards for the capture of the declared international terrorist, Malaysian Zulkipli bin Hir also known as "Marwan."
"Blow me down. I mean, tell that to a six year old. They did not intervene, that is one aspect to be investigated," Santiago said.
Santiago also wanted to know from authorities if the US government used unmanned aerial vehicle or popularly known as drone in military parlance.
"Was there a drone there? We don't know," Santiago said.
The feisty senator also questioned the Executive Branch of government about the matter of turning over the finger specimen of Marwan to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for identification, and not to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
"The most important thing is, after the finger was cut off, why was it was sent to FBI, not to the NBI," Santiago said.
"Is there anything derogatory here implied by the failure to give the finger for identification to our NBI," she added.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/104939/miriam-seeks-probe-on-us-involvement-in-oplan-exodus
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