Cebu archbishop on Mamasapano anniversary: Time will heal wounds

ARCHBISHOP Jose Palma. FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY — It will certainly take time for the wounds to heal but justice must be served.

Such was the message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on the first year anniversary of the Mamasapano bloodbath, which killed 44 commandos of the Special Action force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) in an encounter with Moro rebels.

“It will certainly take time for these wounds to heal and I know that because no one is replaceable. You could not replace the lives of those who perish,” Palma said in an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the 51st Eucharistic Congress.

The archbishop said he is one with the families of the slain SAF troopers who are “very, very sad” a year after their loved ones died during the botched Mamasapano operation.

“I think the families of the SAF 44 a year after are very, very sad about what happened. I feel that way when my brother was ambushed years ago,” he said.

He said the Mamasapano encounter taught everyone the “value of life, the importance of responsibility and the virtue of mercy.”

On January 27, the Senate will reconvene to investigate new information or possible evidence that led to the bloody operation.

Asked about his thoughts on the reopening of the probe, Palma hopes that justice truth, and fairness will prevail.

“We can only pray that the truth about the matter will hopefully would come out, and justice should also be served,” he said.

When asked about the reopening of the investigation being politicized, the archbishop  said the investigation should not be to “benefit them (politicians).”

“Campaign for election should be in the spirit of truth and at the same time not a way of just making the events play a role that can only benefit them,” he said.