DOJ probe team secures vital witnesses on Mamasapano clash

MANILA, Philippines–The Special Team of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has secured vital witnesses that would help their investigation on the circumstances surrounding the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima together with the special team went to Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Friday to conduct an ocular inspection but was cancelled due to firefight between members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters  (BIFF).

“But our trip was not wasted. We were able to access witnesses,” de Lima told reporters Monday, adding that they were able to interview and secure a statements from them.

However, de Lima refused to confirm or deny reports that a member of the MILF is one of their “vital witnesses.”

Asked how important what these witnesses have divulged, de Lima said “napaka-vital nila (they are very vital).” Earlier reports said the MILF member, a veteran combatant of the group and allegedly close to wanted Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino terrorist Basit Usman, had talked to de Lima and NBI investigators in an undisclosed place in Mindanao last week. The MILF member-turned government witness, the reports said, can identify the MILF members who took part in the Mamasapano encounter where the SAF commandos, part of the team that took out Marwan in the early morning of Jan. 25, were killed. Aside from the 44 commandos, 18 MILF members and five civilians were also killed in that encounter.