SAF video ‘gory, brutal and merciless’–AFP

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—Gory, brutal and merciless.

This was how the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) described the video posted on social media showing how one of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force police officer was killed during a firefight in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

“The video is gory, brutal and merciless killing of wounded defenseless men in uniform. It is very disturbing to say the least. It is clear proof of the brutal execution of the police officers that fateful day of Jan. 25,” AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said on Wednesday.

The six-minute video making rounds online showed an elite police officer shot at close range and how the armed men took the weapons and equipment of the slain policemen.

At a Congress hearing on Wednesday, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina confirmed the veracity of the video as he emotionally recounted the brutal killing of his men.

The SAF were targeting two known terrorists, Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman, in a covert operation kept from the military and other officials. The botched operations resulted in the deaths of 44 policemen.

At the same time, Padilla advised the public to be more cautious about the video in respect to the families of the slain troopers.

“However open this video source is, we appeal to the public to be circumspect and respect the grieving families whose feelings we should be mindful of,” Padilla said.

“As responsible citizens, our curiosity must not get the better of us but should compel us to realize the great sacrifices that your men in uniform have been experiencing in ensuring the peace and security of our land,” he said.