MANILA, April 17 -- Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Wednesday called on the Senate to look into the ambush of four Army soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur to assess the peace and security situation in the area.

"Despite immense government resources being put into comprehensive peace efforts and addressing the root causes of insurgency and violent extremism over the years through a whole-of-nation approach, the scourge threatening security and stability in the area remains," Estrada said in a statement.

He said he filed Senate Resolution No. 984 asking the Senate leadership to direct the appropriate committee to exercise the upper chamber's oversight functions in ensuring that "necessary measures" are in place to make the country safe a...