Palace denies shutting down House probe on Mamasapano tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang denied on Wednesday that President Benigno Aquino III had a hand in the suspension of the House of Representatives' inquiry into the fatal police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino and the executive branch are determined to know the whole truth behind the deaths of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

"Wala pong batayan 'yung alegasyon na mayroong kinalaman ang Pangulo o ang executive branch diyan," Coloma said in a press briefing.

"Yan po ay pagpapasya ng Kamara at ng liderato nila at iginagalang po namin ang Kongreso, kabilang na 'yung Kamara, bilang hiwalay at pantay na sangay ng pamahalaan. Wala po kaming panghihimasok na ginagawa sa kanilang ginagawang pagsisiyasat," he added.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said on Tuesday Malacañang was behind the suspension of hearings in Congress to conceal the truth and protect administration officials.

UNA interim president Toby Tiangco said there were indications that key resource persons from the Cabinet did not want to be questioned in connection with the Mamasapano operation such as Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Tiangco claimed that Malacañang is putting undue pressure on Congress and the postponement of the hearings could be part of a bigger plan to divert public attention away from the Mamasapano fiasco.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte defended the suspension of the probe, saying it was necessary since there are separate investigations being conducted in the executive branch that "should result in more actions compared to ours that is in aid of legislation."

Belmonte, a known Aquino ally, said the House probe is expected to resume two weeks from now at the earliest, or around the time the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry will have submitted its final report on the Mamasapano incident.

READ: Lawmakers defend suspension of probe