SAF survivors to tell stories in Senate on Monday

Pictures of the PNP-SAF killed in an alleged “misencounter” with MILF and BIFF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao displayed outside the gates of Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate began on Monday its first hearing on the Mamasapano incident with at least two survivors invited as resource persons.

Police Superintendent Raymond Train and Police Officer 2 Christopher Lalan were among those invited to face the investigation of the Senate committee on public order, joint with committees on peace, unification and reconciliation, and finance to shed light on the incident.

Train and Lalan were part of the teams of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who were deployed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 to serve the warrants of arrest on two suspected terrorists — Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan” and Abdul Basit Usman.

The bloody encounter resulted in the death of Marwan and 44 members of the PNP-SAF.

Also invited to face the investigation were resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima, relieved SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, among others.

Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was also in the guest list but as of Sunday, the committees had no confirmation if he would face the hearing.

Some elements of the MILF were allegedly involved in the killings of the elite policemen perpetrated by suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

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