2 SAF survivors in Senate but not present in hearing

MANILA, Philippines - The public will not be able to hear from the two police commandos the 24 grueling hours they had to endure to survive after their team neutralized Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir last January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on public order and dangerous drugs, announced in her opening statement the presence of Special Action Force (SAF) members Superintendent Raymond Train and Police Officer 2 Christopher Lalan.

Poe, however, said that senators will be able to talk to the two policemen in a "separate meeting" because of their current physical conditions and for their security.

"They are here but senators may talk to them in a separate meeting," Poe said.

Train and his men, including Lalan, of the SAF 84th Seaborne Company, led the actual assault on Zulkifli's hideout.

Despite the loss of 44 SAF men, the operation was still considered successful with the confirmation that the police commandos were able to neutralize Zulkifli, who was responsible in several significant terror attacks in the Philippines and parts of Asia.

The SAF men were already leaving the area of operation when they were engaged by an undetermined number of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters. There were also reports that the policemen were hit by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

In her opening statement, Poe said that the committee would like to know intimate details of the operations, including the top government officials involved in the actual SAF operation.

Present at the hearing was resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, who has denied that he had actual participation in the operations. Also present was SAF commander Chief Superintendent Getulio Napenas, who was the ground commander in the Mamasapano operation.

In his national addresses on the Mamasapano operation, President Aquino admitted that he had consulted with Purisima regarding the operation and also pointed out possible mistakes that Napenas committed as ground commander.

The top officials who were also present at the Senate hearing were Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, PNP acting chief Leonardo Espina, Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Catapang, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Meanwhile, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal snubbed the invitation from the committee to attend the hearing.