House of Representatives. FILE PHOTO BY BERNARD TESTA
The inquiry was set for April 7 and 8, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, the ad hoc committee tasked to deliberate on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will convene anew to continue discussing the bill from April 27 to 30. Voting on the bill at the level of the committee will be in May, when Congress resumes session from a break.
The Mamasapano incident, which killed 44 Special Action Forces men, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and five civilians, has sparked outrage from various sectors demanding accountability from President Benigno Aquino III for the botched operation.
Several bodies have initiated investigation on the incident, including the police board of inquiry (BOI) and the Senate, which both have made public their findings.
The House committee on public order and safety and the committee on peace, unity and reconciliation held a single hearing on the incident but suspended it because many other agencies are already looking into it.
However, several lawmakers, including members of the minority bloc, said many questions have yet to be asked and remained unanswered.
A letter to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. signed by 120 lawmakers so far made clear the call to resume the probe.
On Tuesday, a separate letter, this time addressed to Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, head of the ad hoc panel, was circulated and has gathered 52 signatures of the ad hoc panel members (75 regular members and 16 ex-officio members).
The letter asked the ad hoc panel not to push through with the deliberation of the BBL until the Mamasapano hearings are finished.
On Wednesday, after the adjournment of session, several lawmakers met with Belmonte and Gonzales, and presented the letter to the ad hoc.
Belmonte said he agreed to the proposal of the group to finish the Mamasapano probe then continue the BBL hearing.
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