The police investigation on the January 25 Mamasapano clash is about 70
percent done, according to the police official leading the probe.
Interviewed Thursday, Police Director Benjamin Magalong, who heads the PNP-Board of Inquiry (BOI), said they are doing their best to beat the February 26 deadline.
“Basically, alam na namin kung anong nangyari, from mission planning to execution,” he said.
Magalong, however, said resigned PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima has yet to submit his affidavit as regards the Mamasapano operation.
“Anytime soon he (Purisima) will submit ng kanyang affidavit. Wala naman kaming binigay na deadline sa kanya. Alam naman niya 'yon, we continue to communicate,” he said, adding they are expecting Purisima's statement either Thursday or Friday.
Purisima, who resigned after the incident, has been accused of overseeing the Mamasapano operation despite his suspension as PNP chief in connection with graft charges.
Forty-four members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) were killed in the infamous encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The policemen were on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifi bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman.
The clash occurred despite the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF last year.
Magalong said there is a need to go to the site — an MILF-controlled area — where the encounter happened to validate “allegations and assertions.”
“Next week, napag-usapan namin na pupunta kami sa Mamasapano dahil nakumpleto na namin ang picture of what happened, at may iba kaming iba-validate na claims at allegations, assertions, at iyon ang pupuntahan namin doon, sa site mismo sa Mamasapano, para malaman namin kung ano nga ba ang environment doon,” he said.
“Pagdating dito, puspusang report writing na iyan,” he added. “We are doing our best to beat the deadline.”
MILF side
Magalong said the panel was also waiting for the statments of some members of the MILF.
On the other hand, Magalong said they have also coordinated with the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to interview some MILF personalities.
“Hinihintay namin ang statement ng MILF, nag-request na kami sa MILF if we can interview their personalities who have personal knowledge of what transpired. This is through CCCH. Binigyan naman kami ng favorable reply,” he said.
Report
After the investigation, they will pass a report to PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, who will then pass it on to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.
“Bibigay namin sa aming officer-in-charge and he will submit it to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, kasi siya naman talaga ang nagbigay ng order,” Magalong said.
When asked if the families of the slain SAF men will be satisfied with the result of their investigation, Magalong said: “Iyon ang intention namin, to come up with very truthful report. We are here to seek out the truth, palalabasin namin kung ano ang totoong nangyari.”
Aside from the BOI, both houses of Congress, and the MILF are also investigating the Mamasapano incident. There is also a pending bill at the Senate the seeks the creation of a Truth Commission that will look into the incident. —KBK/NB, GMA News
Interviewed Thursday, Police Director Benjamin Magalong, who heads the PNP-Board of Inquiry (BOI), said they are doing their best to beat the February 26 deadline.
“Basically, alam na namin kung anong nangyari, from mission planning to execution,” he said.
Magalong, however, said resigned PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima has yet to submit his affidavit as regards the Mamasapano operation.
“Anytime soon he (Purisima) will submit ng kanyang affidavit. Wala naman kaming binigay na deadline sa kanya. Alam naman niya 'yon, we continue to communicate,” he said, adding they are expecting Purisima's statement either Thursday or Friday.
Purisima, who resigned after the incident, has been accused of overseeing the Mamasapano operation despite his suspension as PNP chief in connection with graft charges.
Forty-four members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) were killed in the infamous encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The policemen were on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifi bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman.
The clash occurred despite the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF last year.
Magalong said there is a need to go to the site — an MILF-controlled area — where the encounter happened to validate “allegations and assertions.”
“Next week, napag-usapan namin na pupunta kami sa Mamasapano dahil nakumpleto na namin ang picture of what happened, at may iba kaming iba-validate na claims at allegations, assertions, at iyon ang pupuntahan namin doon, sa site mismo sa Mamasapano, para malaman namin kung ano nga ba ang environment doon,” he said.
“Pagdating dito, puspusang report writing na iyan,” he added. “We are doing our best to beat the deadline.”
MILF side
Magalong said the panel was also waiting for the statments of some members of the MILF.
On the other hand, Magalong said they have also coordinated with the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to interview some MILF personalities.
“Hinihintay namin ang statement ng MILF, nag-request na kami sa MILF if we can interview their personalities who have personal knowledge of what transpired. This is through CCCH. Binigyan naman kami ng favorable reply,” he said.
Report
After the investigation, they will pass a report to PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, who will then pass it on to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.
“Bibigay namin sa aming officer-in-charge and he will submit it to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, kasi siya naman talaga ang nagbigay ng order,” Magalong said.
When asked if the families of the slain SAF men will be satisfied with the result of their investigation, Magalong said: “Iyon ang intention namin, to come up with very truthful report. We are here to seek out the truth, palalabasin namin kung ano ang totoong nangyari.”
Aside from the BOI, both houses of Congress, and the MILF are also investigating the Mamasapano incident. There is also a pending bill at the Senate the seeks the creation of a Truth Commission that will look into the incident. —KBK/NB, GMA News
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