Senators back reopening of Mamasapano probe

MANILA, Philippines – The proposal of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce to reopen the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano massacre received yesterday the support of Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Francis Escudero and Sergio Osmeña III.

Marcos again called for justice for the death of 44 Special Action Force commandos.

“This will bring justice to the family of the slain SAF 44,” he said in Filipino.

“It would be good to bring back to the consciousness of our people what had happened on that fateful day.”

Reopening the investigation is possible since the Senate has yet to hold plenary deliberations on the committee report, and that each senator has the right to ask questions on reports of the committees, Marcos said.

Nine months after the massacre, no criminal charges have been filed in court against those responsible for the death of the SAF 44, Marcos said.

“The benefits from the government are not enough,” he said in Filipino.

“They don’t want the government to forget the death of their father, brother, and husband. The sole purpose of the Senate must be to give justice to the families that the SAF 44 had left behind.”