The annual Philippine National Police Academy homecoming is marred with “deep sorrow” over the loss of the 44 policemen, according to PNPA director Chief Supt. Armando Ramolete. PHOTO FROM PNP
SILANG, Cavite—A widow of one of the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed in the Mamasapano encounter has found the results of the board of inquiry (BOI) investigation wanting.
Roselle Nacino, 30, said she was not too happy about the findings even as it had found President Benigno Aquino III, as well as suspended Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and former SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, as having violated the chain of command when the Jan. 25 operation was carried out.
“Nakukulangan ako (I found it wanting),” Roselle said, as she held in her arms her three-month-old son with Police Officer 2 Nicky Nacino.
READ: The Mamasapano incident full report
Nicky, 30, who was recruited into the SAF in 2009, was one of the 44 members of the elite force killed in the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Roselle, as well as the other widows, parents, and relatives of the fallen troops, came to the 35th alumni homecoming of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) here on Saturday.
They received in behalf of the slain policemen the posthumous award conferred by the academy.
For the others, whose relatives were not able to make it, the recognition was received by the presidents of the class they belonged to during their training.
On the other hand, some families were seen to have hurriedly left the stage after receiving the award for their kin.
Roselle said she had not read the full report yet, which the BOI submitted to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas Thursday and was made available to the public online on Friday. She however learned of its contents from news reports.
‘Deep sorrow’
“Hindi pwedeng wala s’ya. Hindi pwedeng wala s’yang alam (It’s not acceptable that he is not culpable. It’s not possible that he did not know anything),” Roselle said of the President.
Nicky, she said, died of a single gunshot wound in the neck. “He could still be alive if there were reinforcements. He was still alive at around 3 p.m. (on Jan. 25) because he was still able to ask me for load (on his cell phone),” she said.
READ: SAF man’s dying wish: P100 load
The annual homecoming, which happened a week before the PNPA graduation, was marred with “deep sorrow” over the loss of the 44 policemen, PNPA director Chief Supt. Armando Ramolete said in his speech.
Some members of the PNP alumni wore black armbands, while each PNP alumni class carried a photo of each of the SAF 44 during the traditional parade on the academy’s grounds.