President
Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday (Feb. 23) met with leaders of the House of
Representatives in Malacañang Palace to discuss the Mamasapano incident and its
implications on the peace process in Mindanao, particularly on the enactment of
the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma, Jr. said the President met with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and other leaders of the House.
Secretary Coloma said the President briefed them on the background of the operations to capture high-value terrorist suspects Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman, and discussed the instructions he had given then commander of the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), Director Getulio Napeñas, who was accompanied by then suspended PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima.
The President had given Napeñas specific instructions on the need to coordinate the operation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and for Purisima to inform PNP Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Coloma said, adding that the President however found out later that these instructions had not been followed.
President Aquino also shared with the legislators the exchange of text messages he had with Purisima on January 25.
The same exchange of text messages was released by the Senate.
During the meeting, the President reiterated his statement during his televised message last February 6 regarding the instances that would have clearly called for the mission to be aborted, but which was not done, Coloma said.
For their part, the House representatives gave their views on how the killing of the SAF troopers has given rise to a clamor among their constituents that justice be pursued, as part of rebuilding public confidence on the viability of the peace process.
Some of the representatives also brought up the need for “leveling off” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the parameters of their partnership with the government in the peace process, including the containment of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF); as well as their active cooperation in bringing those responsible for the death of the SAF troopers to justice.
In response, the President said the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have begun gathering information and evidence so that appropriate charges could be filed in court.
President Aquino also emphasized the importance of the timely approval of the measure, “so as to pave the way for the holding of a plebiscite and if the people will approve the same, to give the members of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority sufficient time to demonstrate its capabilities," said Coloma.
Present during the meeting were House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II; House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora; and chairman of the House ad hoc committee on the draft BBL Rufus Rodriguez.
Also in attendance were former senior military and PNP officers who are now House members: Samuel Pagdilao, Romeo Acop, Leopoldo Bataoil, Gary Alejano, and Ashley Acedillo.
Also present were the chairpersons of the House committees that conducted hearings last week: Jeffrey Ferrer of the committee on public order and safety, and Jim Hataman Salliman of the committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.
During the meeting, the President was joined by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. (PCOO News Release)
Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma, Jr. said the President met with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and other leaders of the House.
Secretary Coloma said the President briefed them on the background of the operations to capture high-value terrorist suspects Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman, and discussed the instructions he had given then commander of the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), Director Getulio Napeñas, who was accompanied by then suspended PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima.
The President had given Napeñas specific instructions on the need to coordinate the operation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and for Purisima to inform PNP Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Coloma said, adding that the President however found out later that these instructions had not been followed.
President Aquino also shared with the legislators the exchange of text messages he had with Purisima on January 25.
The same exchange of text messages was released by the Senate.
During the meeting, the President reiterated his statement during his televised message last February 6 regarding the instances that would have clearly called for the mission to be aborted, but which was not done, Coloma said.
For their part, the House representatives gave their views on how the killing of the SAF troopers has given rise to a clamor among their constituents that justice be pursued, as part of rebuilding public confidence on the viability of the peace process.
Some of the representatives also brought up the need for “leveling off” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the parameters of their partnership with the government in the peace process, including the containment of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF); as well as their active cooperation in bringing those responsible for the death of the SAF troopers to justice.
In response, the President said the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have begun gathering information and evidence so that appropriate charges could be filed in court.
President Aquino also emphasized the importance of the timely approval of the measure, “so as to pave the way for the holding of a plebiscite and if the people will approve the same, to give the members of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority sufficient time to demonstrate its capabilities," said Coloma.
Present during the meeting were House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II; House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora; and chairman of the House ad hoc committee on the draft BBL Rufus Rodriguez.
Also in attendance were former senior military and PNP officers who are now House members: Samuel Pagdilao, Romeo Acop, Leopoldo Bataoil, Gary Alejano, and Ashley Acedillo.
Also present were the chairpersons of the House committees that conducted hearings last week: Jeffrey Ferrer of the committee on public order and safety, and Jim Hataman Salliman of the committee on peace, reconciliation and unity.
During the meeting, the President was joined by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. (PCOO News Release)
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