Palace says PNoy already answered most of Makabayan bloc’s 20 questions

President Benigno Aquino III at the 36th PNPA commencement ceremony at Silang, Cavite (Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA  – President Benigno Aquino III has already answered most of the 20 questions asked by the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives regarding the Mamasapano incident, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday said.

“If anyone looks at the questions posed by the Makabayan bloc, most of them have been responded one way or the other by the President,” Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

“The question is: ‘Why you are asking these questions again? Perhaps you’re not… You don’t want the answers the president gave, one reason, or you are not satisfied with the president’s statement or there is a line that you want the president to state, to say,” he said.

Lacierda said the Palace would leave it up to the leadership of the House to decide on the 20 questions.

Lacierda said since the Makabayan bloc were members of the House of Representatives, “it’s up to go through and the House leadership to go through the procedure.”

”I think the processes, the deliberations on the request to the 20 questions should first be addressed to the House leadership,” Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

The Palace official, however, emphasized the commitment of the President “to uncovering the truth” behind the Mamasapano incident that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers dead.

Lacierda said the President has already stated in a number of occasion the role of the President in the Oplan Exodus where the Chief Executive has already own up full responsibility.

”The President and his spokespersons have already stated in a number of occasion the role,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the President has even explained already the role of then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima on the Mamasapano incident.

”He wants those questions recorded as part of in aid of legislation. Let’s go to the process but what is that process? Let the House leadership determine that process in uncovering and in making sure that the statements of the President are also reflected in their House report,” Lacierda said.

The House leadership has approved the resumption of its own inquiry into the Mamasapano incident on April 7 and 8.

”Again, this is a procedure where the House should work itself out mindful of the separation of powers and the respect for the co-equal branches of government,” Lacierda said.

The Makabayan bloc insisted that the President should be invited to the House probe.

Most of the questions of the Makabayan congressmen were centered on the role of Purisima in the planning and execution of the Oplan Exodus on January 25.

As to the next PNP chief, Lacierda urged the public to just wait for the next announcement of the President for the next PNP chief.

Purisima resigned amid questions on his role in the mission to arrest Zukifli bin Hir ‘alias’ Marwan and Basit Usman despite his preventive suspension slapped by the Ombudsman.