Mamasapano inquiry to resume behind closed doors

(Malacanang stock photo)

MANILA – The House of Representatives will hear the testimony on the Mamasapano incident behind closed doors, according to a lawmaker.

The resumption of the inquiry will tackle sensitive details, including the extend of the participation of the United States in the operation.

“The executive session was scheduled upon request of our police and military guests. They thought some of the questions asked by House members were very sensitive, which could not be freely discussed in public,” Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, 4th District Representative of Isabela said in a statement.

Aggabao, who attended both the April 7 and 8 hearings, also reminded his colleagues not to disclose any details of the executive session.

This, according to him, is to prevent the leaking of any sensitive matter that may also involve national security.

He also said that the session will be as “substantive” as the two public hearings last week.

The session will discuss the involvement of American troops in the operation which killed mora than 60 people.

This “will help us determine some important truths about the failure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deliver the much-needed fire support which could have saved the SAF 44 if only this was delivered early on during the crucial hours of the day,” ACT-CIS Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, a former police general, meanwhile, said.