Probers looking for witnesses in slay of 9 members of 84th SAC

GOVERNMENT investigators are still looking for witnesses who could shed light on the death of 9 members of the 84th Special Action Company (SAC) who were tasked to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias “Marwan.”

“Wala kaming makuhang witnesses sa nangyari sa Barangay Pidsandawan,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said at a press conference Tuesday.

The members of the 84th SAC were killed in the10-hour firefight that erupted in Barangay Inog-og. The gunbattle spread to Mamasapano’s adjoining Barangays Pidsandawan and Tukanalipao.

De Lima said the investigation is included in the second part of the probe of the National Prosecution Service-National Bureau of Investigation (NPS-NBI) team.

Aside from the circumstances on the death of the members of the 84th SAC, de Lima said the special team of investigators is also looking at the circumstances surrounding the death of the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), some civilians and the extent of US involvement in the Mamasapano operation.

De Lima said part 2 of the investigation will be released in two weeks. Tetch Torres-Tupas