BOI report wanting, says widow

The PNP Board of Inquiry formally turns over to “The Mamasapano Report” to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Friday. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

SILANG, Cavite—A widow of one of the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed in the Jan. 25 clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, has found the results of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigation wanting.

Roselle Nacino, 30, said she was not too happy about the BOI findings even as it deemed President Aquino and his close friend, suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, to having violated the chain of command when the mission to take down a Malaysian bomb expert was carried out.

“I found it wanting,” Nacino said in Filipino as she held in her arms her 3-month-old son by PO2 Nicky Nacino Jr.

Nicky, 30, who was recruited into the SAF in 2009, was one of 44 members of the elite police force killed in the Mamasapano operation that was launched to arrest three terrorists. One of the targets, Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was killed by SAF troopers.

Nacino, as well as the other widows, parents and relatives of the slain SAF troopers, attended the 35th Alumni Homecoming of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) here on Saturday.

Posthumous awards

They received in behalf of the slain policemen the posthumous awards given by the academy.

For the others, whose relatives were not able to make it, the recognition was received by presidents of their PNPA classes.

Nacino said she had not read the full report yet, which the BOI submitted to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday and was made available to the public online on Friday. She learned its contents from news reports.

“It’s not possible that he did not know anything,” she said of Mr. Aquino.

Nicky, she said, died of a single bullet wound in the neck. “He could still be alive if there were reinforcements. He was still alive at around 3 p.m. [on Jan. 25] because he was still able to ask me for load [credits for his mobile phone],” she said.

The homecoming, which happened a week before the PNPA graduation, was marred by “deep sorrow” over the loss of the 44 policemen, Chief Supt. Armando Ramolete, PNPA director, said in his speech.

Some members of the PNP alumni wore black armbands, while each class carried a photograph of each of the slain SAF men during the parade.

Catanduanes cry

In Catanduanes province, relatives of slain Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria continued to seek justice as they attended the unveiling of the slain SAF officer’s portrait at Catanduanes State University’s (CSU) Gallery of Distinctions on Sunday. The university held its commencement exercises after the ceremony.

“We cry for justice,” Tria’s elder brother, Ace William, who represented the family, said in a statement he read. “We hope they will come to realize the true meaning of command responsibility which comes basic in every leadership and eminent in every authority.”

“Without those, we say, it is better to resign the position,” he said.

The family said the quest for justice could only run its course once the truth is out and the finger-pointing stops.

“Only then shall we forgive and forget,” Ace William said.

Saying the pain of losing Tria still lingers, the family asked for understanding from the public. Family members said no amount of sincere condolences and offers of sympathy could mend their hearts and ease their grief.

“Perhaps, in time, we will eventually forget the pain,” Ace William said. “But how can we do that if justice is not served, justice not just for our brother but also for his brothers-in-arms, the SAF Fallen 44?”

The Tria family also left a message to the 1,500 graduates of CSU, calling on them to strive and make positive changes in whatever endeavor.

“If you shall prefer the private sector or the corporate world, strive to be great,” the family said. “If you shall work for the government, please bring with you all courage and tenacity to overcome and, perhaps, significantly help in the total overhaul of our mediocre government system.”

Tria’s portrait will be hung beside pictures of the university’s board topnotchers and academic achievers who brought honor to the institution that was founded in 1971. Tria studied in CSU from preschool to high school.