Senate shifts back to executive session to tackle Mamasapano incident

MANILA (PNA) – The Senate panel investigating the Mamasapano incident returned to executive session to reconcile the conflicting statements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the execution of the Oplan Exodus last Jan. 25.”It’s not good to see that the AFP and the PNP quarrel in open hearing and that’s why will have executive session again tomorrow (Tuesday) before our public hearing at 10 a.m.,” Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, told the media after the Monday’s public hearing.Poe said the AFP and the PNP should reconcile their stories or if they cannot – then we can see where the disparities are.””At least when they get together, then they can either back up the statement of the other or contradict but its better because its very difficult to see them fighting in open hearing,” Poe said.The lack of coordination between the PNP and the AFP has been the center of discussion in the last three Senate public hearings.During Monday hearing, relieved Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napenas and resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima resorted to finger pointing on who should have coordinated with the AFP after the PNP SAF encountered with combined forces of the combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberatino Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).Although the SAF team was able to neutralize international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, the PNP SAF lost 44 of its commandos during the almost entire day of firefight with MILF and BIFF elements.During the hearing, AFP chief of staff Gen. Pio Catapang Jr. said it is not true that the AFP did not respond in the Mamasapano encounter.”In fact, we rescued 28 SAF men during the encounter,” Catapang said. (PNA)RMA/JFM