DFA chief skips Mamasapano hearing

The Department of Foreign Affairs was invited to the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano operation to clarify the alleged involvement of the United States in the mission.

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario failed to attend the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano operation on Monday.

Del Rosario will attend to Slovak Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Laj?ák, who is on an official visit to the country today.

Instead, DFA Undersecretary for Policy Evan Garcia will represent the agency during the hearing.

"I assure you of the Department's continued cooperation on matters of mutual concerns," Del Rosario said in his letter to Sen. Grace Poe who heads the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clah.

The Senate invited the DFA to the Mamasapano hearing scheduled on Monday to explain the involvement of the United States on the said operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifl Bin Hir, alias Marwan.

The said operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao led to the death of 44 police commandos during an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other private armies.

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