MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday admitted that President Benigno Aquino III has responsibility for the operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, which led to the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last year.
Poe, who heads the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said that commanders on ground may not be held liable for making a wrong judgment call but that is not the same case as Aquino.
"Hindi ko sinasabing 'yung sa pangulo ay ganun, basta 'yung sinasabi namin dahil nga siya ang commander-in-chief at may kausap siya, mayroon siya talagang responsibilidad doon," Poe said.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero also noted that Aquino is an impeachable officer.
"Kaugnay ng pananagutan ni Pangulong Aquino kung saka-sakali, nabanggit mo na din, impeachable officer siya at hindi maaaring mapanagot sa ano man at naging maingat din kami dahil kapag nilagyan namin ng pananagutan ang commander on the ground dahil may maling ginawa, ang takot namin, baka mabalihibuan o kabahan na 'yung mga commander natin, hindi na magdesisyon on the ground dahil baka masampahan siya ng kaso," Escudero said.
On the other hand, Escudero said that the Senate report on the Mamasapano incident cannot be changed without the consent of the 21 senators who signed it.
A supplemental report will be released instead if Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile comes out with new information as the Senate panel reopens the investigation of the incident.
The Senate decided to reopen the investigation of the Mamasapano incident at the committee level upon the request of Enrile, who said that he wanted to ask questions on government actions during the encounter between the police commandos and Moro rebels.
Enrile was detained for plunder when the Senate held its investigation on the incident early last year.
The 91-year-old lawmaker claimed that Aquino was "directly involved" in the operation and that he has evidence to prove.
Malacañang, however, denied Enrile's claims and insisted that the president did everything to save the lives of the 44 SAF commandos.