20 questions for Noy

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives listed 20 questions for President Aquino to answer as they insisted that he be invited to the chamber’s hearing on the Mamasapano incident next week.

Their plea is contained in a letter the group sent yesterday to Reps. Jeffrey Ferrer of Negros Occidental and Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan, who chair the committee on public order and safety, and committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, respectively.

The two committees will resume the hearing on the Mamasapano operation on April 7 and 8.

Reps. Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Fernando Hicap of Anakpawis signed the letter, a copy of which was sent to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Tinio and Hicap signed for the entire Makabayan bloc, which is also composed of Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela and Terry Ridon of Kabataan.

The lawmakers would like to know why the President allowed then suspended police chief Director General Alan Purisima to participate in the planning and execution of the Special Action Force (SAF) operation and if the Chief Executive did not violate the ombudsman’s suspension of Purisima.

They would like Aquino to reveal what he discussed with Purisima after the latter, then SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas and PNP intelligence chief Sr. Supt. Fernando Mendez briefed him on Oplan Exodus, the blueprint for the SAF mission, in Malacañang on Jan. 9.

Napeñas has told congressional hearings and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry that Purisima, emerging from his huddle with the President, told him not to inform Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina of the mission until it was underway, and that Purisima would take care of informing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

Aquino has said he ordered Purisima and Napeñas to coordinate their mission with the AFP, but that his directive was not obeyed.

The Makabayan bloc members would also like to know if the President issued a stand-down order stopping the military from reinforcing SAF troopers who were battling Muslim guerrillas, or any directive that considered the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Napeñas has claimed that Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, withheld artillery fire support in the morning of Jan. 25 “due to the peace process with the MILF.”

Tinio and his colleagues would like to find out why there was no air support for the SAF teams, and why Aquino said Purisima’s involvement was only up to the time the latter was suspended when it actually went beyond his suspension.

As for the participation of six Americans in the SAF operation, Tinio and his colleagues would like to ask Aquino why he allowed it and what is the legal basis for it.

The lawmakers said US intervention in a PNP operation is not covered by the Mutual Defense

Treaty and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

They wrote the committees on their proposal for the hearing panels to invite Aquino despite the decision of House leaders to no longer ask the President to shed light on his role in the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident.

Aquino has explained his role in four televised speeches, the latest of which was last Thursday before graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Cavite.

The President said he wished Thursday was the last time he would speak on the issue, and that he would like to move on.

In their letter to Ferrer and Salliman, the Makabayan bloc members said next week’s hearing “will help serve the search for truth by the people” in the Mamasapano incident “as well as their demand for accountability from those responsible.”

They said some “significant issues” had been raised “but not completely resolved” by the Senate committee on public order and the PNP Board of Inquiry in their separate investigations of the incident.

“These issues are, namely, the knowledge and participation of President Aquino and the extent of participation of the United States” in the Special Action Force (SAF) mission to capture three suspected terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, they said.

“An analysis of both the Senate and BOI reports will lead to the conclusion that it is only the President who will be able to shed light on these matters,” they added.

Administration allies have said they would want to respect Aquino’s wish to no longer speak on what happened in Mamasapano and to move on, since he has taken responsibility for the incident.

SAF killed its principal target – suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bir Hir, alias Marwan – but lost 44 men in ensuing gunbattles with the MILF and its breakaway faction, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The MILF claims 18 of its fighters were killed. Five civilians also died in the fighting.

Nothing new

Belmonte, however, said there was nothing new in the questions that were raised in other Mamasapano investigations.

He said the House leadership as well as other lawmakers have agreed not to invite the President to the hearings.

He said Aquino could not be compelled to appear before Congress.

The Speaker said that while he shares the grief of the families of the slain SAF commandos, the congressional inquiry must be confined to issues not yet tackled in other probes and should be in aid of legislation.

Belmonte and Ferrer vowed proceedings would be orderly during the inquiry.

Members of the Makabayan bloc said Aquino would be treated with utmost courtesy if he attends the House probe.

Lawmakers reiterate support

Meanwhile, lawmakers from Northern Luzon expressed their support for President Aquino, who is facing his worst credibility crisis since 2010.

The 25-member Northern Alliance bloc in the House said it decided to throw their “full and unwavering support” to Aquino “because of his economic and peace-building efforts.”

“We remain confident in the leadership of President Aquino and his programs espousing long-lasting peace and uplifting our economy, now recognized as one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” the lawmakers said in their manifesto of support that was circulated and signed over the weekend.

Among those who signed the manifesto are Reps. Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur; Ronald Singson (Ilocos Sur); Rodolfo Fariñas (Ilocos Norte); Maria Jocelyn Bernos (Abra); Maximo Dalog (Mountain Province); Eleanor Bulut-Begtang (Apayao); Jesus Celeste (Pangasinan); Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan); Rose Marie Arenas (Pangasinan); Ma. Georgina de Venecia (Pangasinan); Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan); Nicasio Aliping (Baguio); Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao); Victor Francisco Ortega (La Union); Eufranio Eriguel (La Union); Ronald Cosalan (Benguet); Manuel Agyao (Kalinga); Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso (Cagayan); Randolph Ting (Cagayan) and Dakila Carlo Cua (Quirino).

Some lawmakers who trace their roots to Northern Luzon also signed the manifesto, including Reps. Linabelle Ruth Villarica of Bulacan; Romeo Acop (Antipolo); Francisco Emmanuel Ortega and Conrado Estrella of Abono party-list group, and Samuel Pagdilao Jr. of ACT-CIS party-list group.