Senate President Pro-tempore Ralph Recto carefully studies the documents presented to the Senate panel before the start of the hearing. (PRIB Photo by Romy Bugante)

The Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, is continuing the inquiry on the Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident today at 10 a.m. at the session hall 2/f left wing of the Philippine Senate in Pasay City. The inquiry is being held for the purpose of collating relevant pieces of information with regard to the killing of the 44 members of the Special Action Force, to determine accountability and provide a framework of reforms, in aid of legislation, to ensure that a similar tragedy will be avoided in the future.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto asks questions to representatives of the PNP, AFP, MILF and the Peace panel as the Senate holds its second day of public hearing on the Mamasapano incident which led to the death of 44 SAF commandos. Recto said the MILF, aside from promising to surrender the firearms and personal effects taken from the government forces, should also commit to surrender Basit Usman, known sidekick of Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (“Marwan”) who was killed by SAF in the January 25 encounter. Asked by Recto if the MILF was coddling Marwan and Usman, the MILF representative denied it, but PNP OIC Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina answered in the affirmative. “Kung walang kumupkop kay Marwan at Usman, hindi sana nangyari ito at walang namatay,” Recto pointed out. The Senate committee on Public Order is headed by Sen. Grace Poe. (photos by Alex Nuevaespana of PRIB)