BULACAN, Philippines – Senator Gregorio Honasan II welcomed the re-opening of the investigation into the Mamasapano incident, saying this would shed light on the remaining questions surrounding the bloody police operation.

Honasan explained to reporters in an interview during the United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) visit to Bustos town on Wednesday, January 6, that the probe would help lawmakers make the necessary amendments in law, among others.

“Ang chain of command daw, ‘di applicable sa kapulisan (They said the chain of command doesn’t apply to the police). I disagree. Kahit sa mga corporations (Even in corporations), may (there’s) chain of command. There’s always a pecking order, a person responsible above everybody else.” 

The vice chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs cited the need to review the coordination of the chain of command in the botched “Oplan Exodus,” wherein 60 people were killed, including 44 Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) troopers.

“In fact, puwedeng kwestiyunin [kung] pagkukulang ba ito o kahinaan ng Saligang Batas mismo? ‘Yung tungkulin ng pulis at military, that’s one. Coordination. ‘Yung masusing coordination ng chain of command. Sino ba ang dapat managot?” Honasan said.

(In fact we can question if this was just a shortcoming or a weakness on the part of the Constitution. There’s the duty of the police and the military; that’s one. Coordination. Careful coordination of the chain of command. Who should be accountable?)

“Pero ang layunin nito hindi to go witch hunting. Ang mahalaga rito ma-correct through legislation (But the purpose is not to go on a witch hunt. What’s important is we make corrections through legislation),” he added.

On Tuesday, the Senate rules committee gave the go signal to launch additional hearings on the botched police operation. The first hearing is scheduled on January 25, exactly a year after Oplan Exodus was carried out.

It was set following the request of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who claimed he had “personal” information and “new evidence.” The former Senate president was under detention in Camp Crame when the upper chamber first probed the incident.

“Maganda itong pangitain dahil kailangan sundin ang proseso. Ang hinihiling lang naman, lalo na ng pamilya ng nasawi, ay ‘yung katotohanan at hustisya (This is a good sign because we need to follow due process. The family of the victims are only asking for truth and justice),” said Honasan.

While the Senate committee report in March 2015 held President Benigno Aquino III accountable for the Mamasapano encounter, no action has been taken by the Senate 10 months later. (READ: JPE to Grace Poe: What happened to Mamasapano report?)

In July 2015, the Ombudsman’s special fact-finding panel on the Mamasapano incident had recommended filing administrative and criminal charges against 11 police officers, led by former National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, but absolved Aquino. 

In September last year, the National Bureau of Investigation filed criminal complaints against 90 individuals over the incident. (READ: Criminal raps filed vs 90 individuals over Mamasapano clash) 

Elections to affect Mamasapano probe?

The Senate committee tasked to probe the Mamasapano incident is chaired by Senator Grace Poe, a presidential aspirant in the 2016 elections. However, Honasan believes there is no need to form a separate committee because Poe is capable of  heading the new round of hearings.

“‘Pag nageksperimento tayo sa management ng hearings, baka umani na naman ‘yan ng batikos [na] baka si Senator Enrile, Minority Floor Leader, baka magamit ‘yan ng political opposition. Mabuti to leave things as they are. I think Senator Grace is competent enough to manage the resumption of hearings,” said Honasan, UNA’s vice presidential bet.

(If we experiment on the management of the hearings, we could get criticized. If we put Senator Enrile, the minority floor leader, as the head, people might say it might be used by the political opposition. Better to leave things as they are. I think Senator Grace is competent enough to manage the resumption of hearings.)

“We trust the judgment, the collective and consensual judgment of the committee and the Senate as a body na tuwing malilihis ‘yung direksyon ng committee hearings, maitutuwid naman (that when the direction of the committee hearings veers away, we can immediately restore its course),” he added.

Napeñas still willing to testify

Retired police director Getulio Napeñas, who led the ill-fated SAF operation, is wary that politics might come into play in the hearings because of the elections in May. (READ: Napeñas on SAF 44: No guilt over ‘Oplan Exodus’)

The UNA senatorial candidate said he was treated unfairly during the Mamasapano hearings conducted in 2015.

“There were times na nagsasalita ako, kina-cut ako kapag napupunta sa isang conclusion sa isang impormasyon na sinasabi ko, especially nung mga huling araw, nakita ko ‘yun (There were times before when I was speaking and they would cut me off before I could arrive at a conclusion, especially during the last days),” said Napeñas.

However, he is still willing to appear before the Senate panel should he be summoned to the hearings.

“I have to go and attend the hearing [if they invite me]. Kung ano man yung itatanong nila, sasagutin ko (Whatever they ask, I will answer it),” said Napeñas.

Police officials downplayed concerns that aspirants in the 2016 race would use the probe for political gain. (READ: SAF 44 used for politics? That’s for people to say – PNP) – Rappler.com