Panel formed to start prelim probe of murder raps vs 90 in Mamasapano carnage

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) formed a panel of prosecutor to handle the preliminary investigation on the direct assault with murder complaint filed against 90 people for the death of 35 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) 55th company.

Under Office Order 1511 released Wednesday signed by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, members of the panel are Assistant State Prosecutors Aldrin P. Evangelista, Benito Oliver A. Sales III, Rassendell Rex F. Gingoyon and Alexander Q. Suarez. The panel is headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne E. Balauag.

“In the interest of the service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, a panel of prosecutors is hereby constituted to conduct preliminary investigation of the case for the complex crime of direct assault with murder…and if the evidence warrants, to file the appropriate informations with the court/s of competent jurisdiction,” the order stated.

Of the 90 to undergo preliminary investigation,  26 are Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants, 13 of which are battalion commanders from the 105th and 118 Base Command, 12 members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, 6 of which are commanders, and 52 members of private armed groups (PAGs).

“These 90 respondents acted in conspiracy with one another to attack, employ force, seriously intimidate or resist the 35 SAF (Special Action Force) commandos, who were uniformed police officers and, thus persons in authority,” the panel said in their complaint filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Each of the 90 respondents is facing 35 counts of direct assault with murder.

The 90 individuals were identified by five witnesses who are already under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Commandos from SAF 55th who served as blocking force were those killed by Moro rebels in the cornfield in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

On the other hand, the DOJ is set to release the part 2 of the investigation conducted by the National Prosecution Service (NPS) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which covers, among others the the death of the 9 members of the 84th Special Action Company (SAC) who were tasked to arrest terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan.