No whitewash in Mamasapano carnage probe, Malacañang vows

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Monday assured the public that the government-led probe on the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which killed 44 members of the PNP-Special Action Forces last week, would seek only the truth on what really happened.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that a whitewash in the investigation would be an injustice to the victims and their families.

“We will do injustice to the fallen 44 if there is such a thing. And that’s the reason why—if you want to give justice to the fallen 44, any investigative body whether it’s a Board of Inquiry, the Senate and the House, should really seek the truth. That’s the minimum requirement,” Lacierda said.

He also belied claims that that the probe led by the PNP Board of Inquiry will not be objective, saying that it would be “unfair” and “sad” for the institution which suffered great loss.

“For the Board of Inquiry, there have been speculations or already conclusions, judgments that it’s going to be… conclusions would be – or because it’s being…The police is investigating themselves that the findings may not be credible. That is pretty unfair. And I think that is sad that people would say that considering that it’s the police force that lost lives. It’s the institution that has lost precious people. And more than these speculations, I think, the truth for them is much, much more important and trumps all speculations that people have been saying,” the Malacanañang official added.

Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares has earlier questioned the integrity of the PNP-BOI probe as they might turn a blind eye on the involvement of the institution’s top officials and President Benigno Aquino III.

“The PNP Board of Inquiry, composed of PNP Generals, is not expected to objectively investigate the killing of the 44 SAF personnel considering that they will investigate not just the involvement of US forces but also Pres. Benigno Aquino III and (suspended) PNP Chief Alan Purisima who are their superiors,” Colmeranes said on Sunday.

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Teofisto Guingona III both urged the Palace last week to consider the creation of an “independent” commission to investigate the bloody encounter.

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