House suspends Mamasapano clash probe

A Philippine National Police Special Action Force commando stands near a tarpaulin poster calling for justice to 44 commandos killed in a clash with Muslim rebels following a two-day wake Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at Camp Bagong Diwa at suburban Taguig city, south of Manila, Philippines. Southeast Asia's top terrorist suspect has evaded capture and survived several military assaults in the southern Philippines, where police now await DNA results to confirm if he is the man killed in the Jan. 25 raid that left 44 police commandos dead. AP/Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives temporarily suspended the inquiry on the Mamasapano clash on Monday to give way for the investigation of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (BOI).

The House will wait for the BOI to finish their investigation as the results will be used as basis for discussions of lawmakers later on.

"Patatapusin muna namin yung kanila. Whatever it is, let them finish that because part of the work is in the field and so forth," House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. said.

Belmonte noted that the police officers investigating the "misencounter" between the PNP Special Action Force, Moro Islamic Liberation Force (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are more aware of the situation.

"I would like to leave that (immediate probe) to the professionals, to the people who are actually investigating it. They are more aware of the situation on the ground," Belmonte explained.

The House of Representatives earlier suggested that multiple murder cases be filed against members of the MILF who are responsible for the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where 44 police commandos were slain.

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