Mamasapano hearing
POE: TRUTH OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Sen. Grace Poe asked Police Director Getulio Napeñas to submit the operation plan for the Mamasapano operation that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members.

At the joint Senate hearing led by the Senate public order committee chair, Poe addressed the relieved SAF chief, "Truth is our responsibility. May mga tungkulin tayong dapat gampanan, ngunit ang katotohanan sa totoong kaganapan ang dapat nating pairalin."

"There will be serious consequences if it should be proven that the chain of command was broken," Poe emphasized.

"Inihandog ng SAF 44 ang kanilang buhay sa pinakamataas na sakripisyo na magagawa ng pulis--ang mamatay sa linya ng tungkulin. Nararapat lamang na suklian natin ito ng sigasig sa paghahanap ng katotohanan sa pagdinig na ito. Ang paglabas ng katotohanan ang unang hakbang sa pagbibigay ng katarungan sa sinapit ng SAF 44."

"Utang natin lahat sa kanila, sa kanilang mga naulila at sa sambayanang nagdadalamhati ang pagpapalabas ng totoong naganap sa Mamasapano noong Enero 25 ng walang itinatago, walang pinipili at walang interes kung hindi tuparin ang tungkulin na iniatas sa atin," Poe said.

The senator expects the attendance of the SAF comptroller who released the necessary funds for the operation, as well as other pertinent documents asked by senators.

The joint hearing tackled the resolutions filed by Senators Vicente Sotto III, Jinggoy Estrada, TG Guingona, Poe and JV Ejercito.

At the start of the probe, Poe called for a moment of silence to remember the slain SAF members, including those wounded at the height of the Mamasapano encounter.

She stressed that the inquiry needs answers on five issues: command and control, fundamentals in combat operations and intelligence, number and strength of forces, training, and equipage.