Conflicting points in Senate, MILF Mamasapano reports to be discussed - Poe

From InterAksyon (Mar 25): Conflicting points in Senate, MILF Mamasapano reports to be discussed - Poe



Senator Grace Poe during the hearings on Mamasapano

All the contradicting points in the separate Senate and Moro Islamic Liberation Front reports on the January 25 Mamasapano incident will be discussed by the three committee that undertook the probe into the deadly Special Action Force mission to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday.

However, Poe, who chairs one of the panels, the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, stood by the Senate report, which held President Benigno Aquino III “ultimate responsible” for Mamasapano and called the deaths of 44 SAF commandos a “massacre” blamed on the MILF.

The commandos died in the clash that ensued during the operation, which is said to have killed Marwan. The MILF, in its own report, which was submitted to the Senate and Department of Justice on Tuesday, said it lost 17 fighters and that at least three civilians also died.

The other Senate panels that undertook the inquiry were the committees on finance, and on peace, unification and reconciliation.

The Senate report on Mamasapano was signed by 20 lawmakers.

Poe, in a statement, commended the MILF for completing its investigation and said amendments may be proposed and considered by the three panels when Congress resumes session in May.

“How the MILF report should be treated, considering certain findings of fact which are contradictory to a portion of ours, shall also be discussed by the joint committees,” Poe said.

In it 35-page report, the MILF said the SAF violated the long-standing ceasefire agreement between the rebel organization and the government.

Ironically, one of the agreement’s signatories was now resigned Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who the Senate as well as the PNP’s board of inquiry said had apparently been allowed by Aquino to oversee the Mamasapano operation even if he had been placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman for graft charges.

The MILF also denied coddling Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman, the targets of the SAF operation.

“Understandably, we have divergent views on certain issues and events, particularly on the nature and gravity of the killing of the members of the 55th SAC,” Poe said. “This may be because we had access to different sets of witnesses or we have a different appreciation of facts.”

The 55th SAC, which was the blocking force during the Mamasapano mission, lost all but one of its 36-man strength when it clashed with MILF fighters. The MILF report said the policemen fired first, forcing its fighters to engage them.

“As I announced previously, amendments may be proposed and considered when we resume session in May,” Poe said. “What is important is that all of us continue on our pursuit of the truth and not to waver on our quest for genuine peace in Mindanao.”

“Given the differing findings of fact, it is more imperative for the DOJ to expedite and finish its investigation, identify the culpable individuals, and prosecute them accordingly,” Poe said. 

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/107636/conflicting-points-in-senate-milf-mamasapano-reports-to-be-discussed---poe