Palace welcomes Senate plan to probe Quezon shootout
-A A +ATuesday, January 15, 2013
MALACAÑANG supported on Tuesday the plan of the Senate to conduct its own inquiry into the controversial shootout in Atimonan town in Quezon that killed 13 people.
“We have no problem with that. That is perfectly within the power and jurisdiction of the Senate to investigate the incident in aid of legislation,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. filed a resolution asking the Senate to conduct an investigation into the shooting incident where three policemen and three military personnel were killed along with alleged criminals.
Senator Gregorio Honasan, who chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said he will start the investigation upon the release of the result of the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Congress will resume its session in January 21.
Valte reiterated that there will be no sacred cows in dispensing justice on the case considering that there were military and police personnel involved.
She said President Benigno Aquino III is keen to get to the bottom of the incident and ensure that justice will be served to the victims.
The Palace official said the NBI was tasked not just for fact-finding purposes but also to determine the culpability of those involved in the supposed firefight.
Families of those who were slain said that the incident was an ambush and there was no exchange of gun fires that happened.
Valte, likewise, said that the NBI will look into reports Superintendent Hansel Marantan refused to undergo a body check to inspect his gunshot wound.
“The refusal to cooperate will not be tolerated. Secretary Mar Roxas will be ready to relieve them,” she said.
Malacañang is also confident that the image of the PNP will be restored under the Aquino administration despite this recent issue.
“The leadership of the PNP is cognizant of these challenges to them and they are perfectly willing to accept the challenge and to take it on,” Valte said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
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