14 senators sign Senate report on Mamasapano incident

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, holds a copy of the Senate Committee Report on the Mamasapano Incident Investigation during a press conference on Tuesday (March 17, 2015) at the Senate Bldg. in Pasay City (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – More than majority of the 24 senators have already affixed their signatures to the 129-page investigation report on the Mamasapano incident prepared by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Grace Poe.

According to Poe, a total of 14 senators have already signed electronically while two of her colleagues promised to sign the report she released last Tuesday.

”Yes, majority of them have signed the report,” Poe said in a text message to the Senate media on Wednesday.

Poe said the committee report needs only 13 signatures from her colleagues.

Aside from Poe, other senators who have signed the report are Senators Francis Escudero, Sergio Osmena III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Alan Peter Cayetano, Nancy Binay, Ralph Recto, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan II, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Vicente Sotto III.

Senator Loren Legarda promised to sign it within the day while Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said he will sign the report upon his arrival from the United States.

”Senator JV approved the report but he will personally sign it on Thursday when he arrives from the US but may use e-signature too,” Poe said.

Last Tuesday, Poe highlighted major findings of her report where she said the Mamasapano incident was clearly a “massacre” and not simply a so-called encounter or misencounter.

According to the report, the concerned members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed groups have murdered and robbed the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

The committee report also found former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima committed “usurpation of authority or official functions” for involving himself in the Oplan Exodus despite being suspended by the Ombudsman.

Poe also said relieved SAF Chief Getulio Napenas committed “grave misconduct, inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties and for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.”

As to President Benigno S. Aquino III, Poe said the President “is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the Mamasapano incident ”for assenting to Purisima’s unlawful exercise of official functions.”

Contrary to the statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the mission was 100-percent Filipino, Poe said indications showed that the United States personnel played a role in the planning and execution of the botched mission.

Poe said she will wait for additional attachments from senators whom she requested to submit their additional positions in writing “if they have any.”

”I will present (the report) in plenary in May,” Poe said.

The Senate will adjourn session on March 21 and will resume on May 3.