PNP-SAF chief sacked following Maguindanao ‘misencounter’

Philippine police commandos load body bags containing the remains of their comrades killed in a clash with Muslim forces, onto a truck in the town of Mamasapano, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on January 26, 2015. AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has ordered the relief of Special Action Force (SAF) head Director Getulio Napeñas following the death of dozens of his men in Maguindanao on Sunday.

This developed as Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said that 44 SAF men were killed in the clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano town. A total of 392 members of the elite police unit were involved, Roxas said.

“I personally talked to Napeñas. His administrative relief will pave way for the investigation of the board of inquiry,” Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said on Tuesday.

In press briefing at Camp Crame, Espina and Roxas announced the creation of the board of inquiry to investigate the police operation that led to the “misencounter” with the MILF.

Napeñas will be replaced by deputy SAF director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño.

The board of inquiry was formed to investigate what went wrong in what might be the deadliest police operation in recent history of the PNP.

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