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Philippine Senate Wrapping up Probe on Alleged Abu Sayyaf-Military Collusion
The Philippine Senate is set to conclude its investigation on the alleged collusion between the Abu Sayyaf and certain military officers during a controversial siege in the southern island of Basilan, a senator said Saturday.
"It is a matter of putting it all together. We are now preparing our report," Senator Francis Pangilinan said in a television interview.
The Senate began its probe last month after Roman Catholic priest Cirilo Nacorda in Lamitan town in Basilan accused five military officers of pulling out troops to let the Abu Sayyaf bandits escape from a surrounded hospital in the town with their hostages on June 2 in exchange for a share of ransom for the hostages.
The House of Representatives is also conducting its investigation into the alleged collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf, which is still holding at least 18 hostages, including an American couple.
Those accused, including a brigadier general, have denied the allegations.
Pangilinan said there were "interesting developments" in the past two hearings as to whether or not ransom was paid for the release of three hostages and if the escape of the bandits was a result of either "a tactical error or a deliberate move" by the military.
Witnesses presented by Nacorda have testified that ransom was paid for the "release" of the three hostages and that the military allowed the Abu Sayyaf bandits to flee with the rest of the hostages.
The circumstances in the reported escape of the three became the focus of the Senate and House investigations.
Senator Ramon Magsaysay, head of the senate national defense committee probing the allegations, said in a television interview on Friday that he had found "strong evidence" to support the allegations. "I am afraid we might even go for a court martial," he said.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo refused to comment on the Senate and House investigations at a press conference on Friday, but she lamented that the ongoing probes were "demoralizing the military."
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