Palace: Up to Senate to decide on Mamasapano probe

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has the last say on the fate of the Mamasapano probe, Malacañang said on Saturday, September 12.

In an interview over state-run radio dzRB, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte clarified that it is up to senators if they are keen on revisiting the investigation of the incident that killed 44 elite police forces and at least 7 civilians. (TIMELINE: Mamasapano clash)

“Iiwan na po natin doon sa ating mga senador kung ano po ang magiging hakbang nila sa panukala ni Senador Grace Poe na i-reopen ‘yung investigation (We leave to the senators the decision on what they will do regarding Senator Grace Poe’s move to reopen the investigation),” she said.

Poe on Thursday, September 10, said she is “considering” re-opening the Mamasapano probe as she is “interested” to listen to the other version – as insisted by President Benigno Aquino III. (READ: Grace Poe ‘considering’ re-opening Mamasapano probe)

‘BBL is focus’

Dismissing ‘fears’ that the reopening of the probe may affect the process of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Valte said that what is important now is to reach out to stakeholders.

“Ang pinagtutuunan po natin, at least doon sa BBL, ay iyong patuloy na pakikipag-usap doon sa mga stakeholder diyan, sa mga mambabatas sa Mababang Kapulungan, sa Mataas na Kapulungan (What we are focusing now, at least in the BBL, is that we continue to talk to stakeholders, members of the Congress and the Senate),” she said.

She added that this will pave the way for better understanding of their concerns regarding the proposed law.

“Ito ay para maipagpatuloy po iyong mga discussion doon sa kung ano pa ho bang mga isyu ang kanilang — what other issues they are concerned about in the BBL (This is to continue discussions on issues they are concerned about in the BBL),” Valte said. – Rappler.com