MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Mar Roxas assured the Tagaligtas officers of the Special Action Force that all questions about the bloody encounter of their fallen comrades in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, would be answered by the probe of the Philippine National Police’s board of inquiry.
In a dialogue with Special Action Force (SAF) troopers at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Sunday afternoon, Roxas assured 200 SAF troopers in their combat uniform of a truthful and transparent investigation by the board of inquiry. Roxas vowed to make sure the investigation would answer all possible questions of the families and friends of those who died.
“Like all of you, I am very interested to know the results of the investigation of the board of inquiry for us to know the truth. To show respect to those who lost their loved ones in the incident, we will make sure that the board will be transparent and truthful,” Roxas added.
He explained that the board of inquiry (BOI) would determine what exactly happened during the entire operation. “We will create a timeline of the operation to know who knew what, when and to find out if there were lapses in the operation.”
The PNP earlier announced that the BOI was formed to look into the lapses committed, create doctrinal, tactical and preoperational point of view that would serve as reference for future operations. The board is composed of Police Director Edgardo Ingking of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, Police Director Benjamin Magalong of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodrigo of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.
The interior secretary likened the event on Sunday to the usual gathering of families during the end of the week. “But unlike other families who are celebrating on Sundays, we are sharing today the sadness, grief, anger and frustration over the deaths of 44 of your comrades,” he added.
Roxas said that the gathering was just the first step in their pursuit for answers and justice.
“This also shows that we have a resolve to come out of this stronger. We have questions in our minds like what will happen next. The answers will come, I assure you,” the interior secretary said.
In an effort to console the SAF troopers who lost some of their friends and batchmates in the Maguindanao clash, Roxas reminded them that the team was able to fulfill their mission.
“The SAF got their man, it was mission accomplished. It was a legitimate and righteous mission to capture Marwan,” he said as he referred to Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (also known as “Marwan”) who reportedly died during the operation.
Roxas also said that there should be no questions on the legitimacy of the operation and that nobody else but the SAF got to the terrorist.
“The 44 slain SAF officers and the others wounded in the encounter did their duties with utmost bravery, courage, professionalism, competence and dedication to the unit and to the flag,” he added echoing the belief that the officers died a “righteous death” in a pursuit of a proper target and in the defense of innocent people.
The interior secretary also fielded questions from some SAF troopers who expressed mostly their grief and anger on what happened to their 44 comrades during the operation.
Most of those who bravely expressed themselves said that they are really angry with the tragic death of their fellow SAF troopers and that they continuously question why reinforcement were not immediately sent to the raiding team.
One officer, who said that one of her classmates died in the Mamasapano clash, spoke about the need of SAF troopers for assurances by the government that the state had their backs.
PO3 Escamilla, a SAF trooper who wanted to be identified only with his last name, read a short note to Roxas where he said that his family has asked him to resign from being a police officer and find a “better and safer job.”
While trying to fight his tears, the trooper said that he will remain dedicated to his mission of “fighting for truth and righteousness and freedom against global terrorism “despite the threat and danger that his job would pose.
Escamilla told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he was part of the operation to hunt down Marwan in 2012 in Lanao Del Sur where the terrorist was able to flee from the SAF team. Asked what he thought about the government’s promise of speedy justice, Escamilla said he was hopeful it would be served soon.
As troopers start to become emotional during the short program, Roxas encouraged them to transform their tears and sorrow into strength. “We must be strong for the Fallen 44, to give meaning to what they died for and to continue their fight,” he added.