Espina blasts MILF-BIFF ‘overkill’ of SAF 44, seeks answers

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina blasted Moro rebels Monday morning over the “overkill” of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on January 25, 2015.

Espina, speaking during the Senate hearing on the incident, demanded for answers.
Granting that the mission went awry and killed 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members, Espina asked three questions he wanted to be answered as the Senate probed the incident.

First, was the “overkill” of the SAF men, mostly in the 55th SAF company, valid?

“Almost all were shot at close range in their head. They were stripped of their uniforms, personal belongings, cellphones. Some were even telling the wives of my men, ‘Patay na ang asawa mo. Huwag ka nang tumawag’,” Espina lamented.

The 392 SAF troopers encountered the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the ill-fated operation on January 25.

Second, Espina said the Moro rebels saw SAF patches in the uniforms of the government troops. Why would they kill them at close range considering the continuing peace talks between the two parties?

Third, he asked, after killing 36 troopers from the 55th SAF company, why did they have to maneuver and kill more from the 84th SAF company, the assaulting force that killed Marwan?

“We request them to answer all these questions and return all the firearms belonging to us,” he said.

“We seek answers from the other party. Forty four of my men from the SAF were killed in a brutal and merciless fashion they were killed in a legit police operation to arrest a terrorist who continued to be a threat to peace-loving citizens,” Espina added.

He said he was thankful for the Senate inquiry “so we can seek justice.”

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