The National Bureau of Investigation. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started its investigation into the January 25 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that killed 44 elite cops.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said NBI agents from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) started gathering evidence and looking for witnesses on Tuesday.
“Yung NBI component, as we speak, nagtatrabaho na sila because these are mostly agents on the ground doon sa ARMM…kasama d’yan intel gathering and then locating possible witneeses other than the surviving SAF,” De Lima told reporters on Wednesday.
A department order was issued but the agents were not identified, she said.
“Baka ma-intimidate sila. We would rather conceal their identities at this point kaya hindi ko pinangalanan sa DO,” she said.
Aside from the NBI agents, five state prosecutors will be part of the fact-finding team of the Department of Justice.
“The prosecutors will evaluate the evidence that will come from the Board of Inquiry and the NBI team,” De Lima said.
De Lima formed a fact-finding team upon orders of President Benigno Aquino III to file charges against those responsible for the carnage.
The DOJ fact-finding team will work closely with the Board of Inquiry of the Philippine National Police.
The PNP Special Action Force commandos were in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, to capture Malaysian terrorist and Bali bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman when they figured in a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
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