Bishop: Probes on Mamasapano just for show

MANILA, Philippines - The various investigations by different government bodies in the Mamasapano incident will not uncover the truth behind the operations that resulted to the deaths of the 67 persons, including five civilians, a retired archbishop said on Wednesday.

 

Lingayen-Dagupan Emeritus Oscar Cruz said that these investigations and investigation panels are just for show. 

 

The agencies now conducting their respective probe on the incident include the Philippine National Police's PNP) Board of Inquiry, Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Human Rights, and the Department of Justice. 

 

The retired archbishop, instead, reiterated his call for the creation of an independent investigating body composed of retired magistrates, and people of the academe such as law professors to get to the bottom of the incident. 

 

"Dapat dyan kung gustong mag-investigate at kung totoo. Ang totoo kasi, ayaw nila ang katotohanan kaya maraming kung sino-sino ang mag-investigate tapos pare-parehas lang ang konklusyon. Kaya kung gustong mag-investigate, wala dapat na miyembro na galing sa gobyerno," the prelate told Radyo Veritas. 

 

Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs chairman, suggested that the investigations should focus on the chain of command.

 

Bishop Pabillo said resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima and sacked PNP -Special Action Force chief Getulio Napenas Jr. have acted on the orders of their superiors. 

 

"Dapat umakyat pa sila sa pananagutan, sino ba yung nagbigay ng order na nasa taas? Baka naman ay hanggang doon lamang. Ayaw nilang tumbukin yung dapat tumbukin. Kunyari ano ba yung kinalaman ng Presidente diyan? May kinalaman siya diyan sa malaking operasyon," the bishop said. 

 

During the Senate inquiry, Napenas admitted that he briefed President Benigno Aquino III and PUrisima on the Mamasapano operations.