President Aquino is expected to announce on Thursday the result of a new inquiry that the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” on Jan. 25 in Mamasapano, dismissing other purported accounts of the police operation, the Inquirer learned from a well-placed government source on Wednesday night.
“The result of the investigation debunks all other versions that have come out before. All angles were looked into,” the source said, requesting anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter. The source declined to give more details.
Earlier on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the investigation ordered by the President was meant to ensure closure and determine the “final truth” in one of the traumatic events in the Aquino administration.
“This is about making sure that we close this issue once and for all,” Lacierda said in response to a question whether the Palace was concerned that the investigation could affect Aquino’s approval rating.
“There were a number of versions that were coming out. We need to validate and we need to make certain what is the final truth and that is forthcoming. So we assure the people that the validation is forthcoming,” Lacierda said.
The Inquirer learned that National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia had been directed by the President to look into various versions surrounding the death of Marwan that had reached him.
Aquino is expected to give a speech and hold a press conference at noon, according to the official schedule of the President released on Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told the Inquirer on Monday that authorities were looking at various angles raised recently about the bloody clash, including the claim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The MILF said Marwan, the target of the police counterterrorism operation, was executed by his aides before the SAF commandos arrived at his hideout in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.
The SAF, on the other hand, insisted that its commandos killed Marwan. In the ensuing encounter with the MILF and other armed groups, 44 SAF troopers were slaughtered.
In last week’s Meet the Inquirer Multimedia forum, the President disclosed an “alternative version of events” in Mamasapano, noting that the photograph of Marwan dead inside his hut, published in the Inquirer on Jan. 30, “posed so many questions.” It was noted that Marwan had no underwear when there was supposed to be an encounter.
The photo showed Marwan with a chest wound and a pool of blood behind his head, indicating he could have been shot from behind.
Politicized
Lacierda was asked about Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ claim that the purported new version of the tragic episode was an attempt to cover up the shortcomings of Aquino.
Lacierda replied that Marcos was engaging in politics. “There are so many politicians who politicize the Mamasapano issue. What we are doing is we are validating the alternative version. So let us not politicize this,” he said.
Former Director Getulio Napeñas, the sacked SAF commander, said in a TV interview that the new version of the Mamasapano operation demeaned the heroism of his men and was a slap in the face of the elite force and the entire PNP.
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez said on Monday, “For people saying there is an alternative version of the events, perhaps they should provide evidence, because 44 of my people were killed.” He said the new claims were “not good for morale.”
Marquez said he had spoken with Director Benjamin Magalong, who headed a PNP inquiry into the SAF operation.
“If there is new information, we look back, we do a review. Sometimes, maybe there’s something that was overlooked, something wasn’t asked in the investigation. Case review is always an option if there’s new information,” Marquez said.
“We’re all interested to get to the bottom of this incident so we could put closure on the events in Mamasapano,” he added.