"J .', ,"' d\!!'<f, (p". ~l H'IZl(~ SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Second Regular Session ) SENATE P.S.R.No. 1138 Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE FIREFIGI-IT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL FORCES THAT LEFT 44 POLICE COMMANDOS DEAD IN MAGUINDANAO WHEREAS, the Constitution, Article 2, Section 5, provides: "The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy"; WHEREAS, media sources said that 392 members of the Philippine National Police­ Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) launched an operation on 25 January 2015 in a Maguindanao area allegedly controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF); WHEREAS, the move was reportedly aimed at arresting two suspected terrorists: Malaysian Zulkifli bin I-lir, said to be a member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah militant group, and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman; WHEREAS, the move, which senior otlicials of the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said was uncoordinated, resulted in hours of ilrefight that killed 44 police commandos and wounded 12 others; WHEREAS, the incident comes amid a push for Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL); WHEREAS, details of the clash may be relevant to this august body's deliberation of the BBL, pending as Senate Bill No. 2408 in three committees-the committee on local government; the committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation; and the committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes; WHEREAS, the violence also brings to the fore problems in police leadership, which may affect the ability of law enforcers to fulfill their obligation of protecting the safety of the Filipino; WHEREAS, it is imperative for the government to ascertain the details of the incident and bring to justice all otlicials involved; WHEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE PHILIPPINE SENATE to direct the proper Senate committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the firefight between government and rebel forces that left 44 police commandos dead in Maguindanao; Adopted, fLk" ~h--- ,O,~ MIRIAM DEF~SOR SAi'fTIA1fY Ikamp 11' .