Palace: PNoy can't be compelled to face Mamasapano probes

MANILA, Philippines - Will President Benigno Aquino III testify at the Senate and House inquiries into the fatal January 25 Mamasapano operation?

Aquino's spokesman refused to answer this question on Wednesday, saying he is not in the position to make decisions for his boss.

"Don’t ask me. Don't ask me if the president is going to participate," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. "There's a legislative inquiry on both Houses, so I don’t know... It's not [for] me to decide."

Lacierda then answered in the negative when asked if Aquino can be compelled to face the congressional probes in the first place. He said senators have expressed the same opinion.

"No. This is a different branch of government and I think Sen. (Antonio) Trillanes and Sen. Grace Poe have already stated, have been interviewed on that question. We would leave it to the senators to (respond) and they have responded to it already," Lacierda said.

Regarding the questions that only Aquino may be able to answer, Lacierda said these can be asked to "anybody who has discussions with the President."

"I think those questions can be asked from collateral persons who are involved in the operation," he said.

The Senate on Tuesday started conducting its hearings on the botched Mamasapano operation that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who had a "misencounter" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The Senate will hold its second hearing tomorrow while the House of Representatives started its probe today.

Last week, senators filed a bill seeking to create a truth commission that will conduct an independent probe on the Mamasapano incident.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said the fact-finding body will have the power to call anyone to testify at the hearings and cite in contempt those who would defy its orders.

Guingona said the president can be invited to the probe although it would be unnecessary to compel him to attend the hearings since he would accede to the truth commission's request.

"I believe that there will be no need for the word 'compel' since we have confidence in the leadership of the President. And we believe that the President will back this truth commission also," Guingona said.

Among those who attended the Senate and House hearings so far are resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima, PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang.

MILF 'snub'

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel and Bangsamoro Transition Authority, snubbed the Senate and House hearings.

Lacierda cited Iqbal's letter to the Senate and the House stating that they are willing to appear in an executive session.

He said it is up to the Senate on whether the MILF's request will be granted and on whether they would be cited in contempt if they continue to be absent at the hearings.

Lacierda also assured that an executive session for the Mamasapano probes would still be helpful in the search for truth.

"Ang executive session ang ibig sabihin lang naman doon ibibigay rin ang information sa kinauukulan. Hindi nga lamang for public—before the public. Other than the senators, other than the resource persons concerned, wala nang makaka-attend doon," Lacierda said.

"Pero the information requested will still be provided whether by the government, if there are national security concerns involved, or by the MILF. The important thing is that they are able to shed light in the situation before us," he added.