PNP board of inquiry starts probe into death of 44 SAF commandos

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police board of inquiry (BOI) has opened an investigation into the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in a chaotic operation to take down two wanted terrorists in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25.

The eight-member BOI, headed by Director Benjamin Magalong of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), is questioning 420 witnesses to the operation to capture or kill Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino deputy Basit Usman.

The board’s members are long-serving PNP officials and have headed various units where their leadership capabilities have been tested.

As of Thursday, the body had received the statements of 307 witnesses, and was waiting for the statements of resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima, who allegedly planned and directed the SAF operation.

Former SAF officer

Magalong is a former SAF battalion commander who broke a standoff with police forces by detained Abu Sayyaf bandits at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City in March 2006.

Another member of the inquiry board is Director Catalino Rodriguez of the Directorate for Research and Development. He used to be police regional director for Northern Mindanao. He also served as head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) and as provincial director of Misamis Oriental.

Rodriguez did postgraduate studies in criminal justice and police management at the University of Lei Ces Per in the United Kingdom, and obtained civil service executive eligibility.

Representing the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) on the board is Chief Supt. John Sosito of the Class of 1984, who is the executive officer of the DIPO in Eastern Mindanao.

A lawyer, Sosito has served in the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and in Eastern Visayas, and has police executive senior eligibility from the National Police Commission.

Awardee

Another PNPA graduate is Senior Supt. Robert Po of the Class of 1985, the current deputy spokesman of the PNP.

Po used to be assigned at the NCRPO’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management and the Manila Police District’s chief directorial staff.

He is also former chief of police in General Santos City, and has served as regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Metro Manila.

Senior Supt. Ronald de la Rosa of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1986 is former police chief of Davao City and has served as CIDG investigator

Senior Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag of the PMA Class of 1987 returned from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia last year. He has served in the NCRPO and the Highway Patrol Group.

Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. of the PMA Class of 1988 served as operation officer of the SAF in 1990 and as provincial director of Aklan.

Durana also served as a UN peacekeeper. He has received the Dangal ng Bayan award.

Youngest member

The youngest member of the board is Chief Insp. David Joy Duarte of the PNPA Class of 2005, who graduated at the top of his class. He is also a graduate of the Asian Institute of Management.

Duarte was intelligence and logistics officer of the SAF from 2005 to 2011. He is currently assigned at the Center for Police Strategic Management.