AFP chief: Yes, we’re into new leads in Mamasapano

Gen. Hernando Delfin Iriberri, whose promotion as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday, said the military was validating new information about an “alternative truth” to the Mamasapano massacre disclosed by President Aquino on Tuesday during the Meet the Inquirer Multimedia forum.

Iriberri said this new information had been discussed with Aquino, but he declined to elaborate.

“This is new information that we have to be very careful about because it’s very sensitive,” Iriberri told reporters at the Senate shortly after the commission approved his ascension to the post upon the retirement in July of Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

“If there is a concrete picture, I’m sure it will be immediately released. Let’s wait for the results,” Iriberri said.

The President on Tuesday said the photograph of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” showing him dead in his hut that was published in the Inquirer on Jan. 30, five days after the massacre of 44 Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, “posed many questions and that is what we want to resolve.”

Aquino disclosed the new investigation eight months after the bloody encounter in an area controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and set back a timetable for the establishment of a Bangsamoro substate as the centerpiece of a peace agreement signed last year.

The President said that investigators were now looking for witnesses “that will prove or disprove certain observations.” But he also said that investigators were having a “difficult” time getting the witnesses.

A source has told the Inquirer that the so-called alternative truth “may have very serious unintended consequences. Lives are at risk.”—Christine O. Avendaño