PNPA alumni dissuaded from joining SAF march

MANILA, Philippines - A ranking police officer and head of an alumni association of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) has sent text messages to fellow alumni dissuading them from joining tomorrow’s “March for Justice” for the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) killed by Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

“Lakan and Lakambini (male and female graduates of the PNPA) having weighed the pros & cons of the Sympathy Run on Sunday, realizing its effects, and putting premium to the interest of the PNP, I, as Crame Chapter president, urge all chapter members to desist from joining the said march,” read the text message of Sr. Supt. Jerome Baxinela, president of the Camp Crame chapter of the PNPA Alumni Association Inc. Baxinela belongs to PNPA Class 1986.

“The intent of the PNPAAAI National is noble but the present situation does not warrant participation thereof. Let us uphold public interest over and above all other interests. Please pass,” Baxinela added.

He declined to be interviewed by media. It was not clear if his text initiative was solely his own. The PNP leadership has denied ordering its men to avoid the march.

Sources told The STAR Baxinela was actually one of the PNPAAAI officials who conceptualized and planned the march set for tomorrow.

A PNP official later reportedly called Baxinela and “advised” him to talk his colleagues out of joining the unity march.

Members of the militant women’s group Gabriela will join the march. Tomorrow’s march coincides with International Women’s Day.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said that while the PNP has been supportive of the call for justice for the 44 SAF men, the so-called unity walk “should be done within the bounds of the law and rules and regulations of the PNP.”

“We don’t know yet the context of the unity walk, whether it’s protest action or any other form of protest,” he said.

“This is outside the PNP, though many of its members are reportedly planning to attend the event,” he added.

The event is expected to be attended by family and friends of the 44 slain SAF commandos.

PNPA board chairman Tomas Rentoy III said the peaceful march marks the culmination of the 44-day period of mourning for the SAF heroes. 

Rentoy, a retired police general, said simultaneous marches would be held in Metro Manila and other key cities and towns across the country.

Rentoy said the slogan for the march is: “Walk with the Widows, Run for our Heroes.”

In Metro Manila, the activity would be conducted in two phases. The first phase involves a 44-kilometer jog-walk from Salitran, Dasmariñas City, Cavite to Camp Crame, Quezon City. In phase 2, participants would march from Camp Crame to the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QCMC) where an ecumenical religious service would be held.

Assembly time will be at 5 a.m.

“Backpacks, bags, luggage and other non-transparent containers may not be brought in or carried by participants during the march,” Rentoy said. “Only transparent bottles of water, juice and other non-alcoholic beverages may be brought in and carried by participants.”

Participants are also barred from making inflammatory statements. Anti-government posters, tarpaulins, handouts are also not allowed.

Protest actions

Black-veiled protesters belonging to the Youth for Accountability and Truth (Youth Act Now), meanwhile, assembled yesterday on Nicanor Reyes Street in Manila to demand the resignation of President Aquino as well as swift justice for the fallen 44.

“Today is the 40th day of the Mamasapano bloodshed but until now, there are no clear answers and accountability on the operation which led to the death of almost 80 people,” Youth Act spokesman Christian Lloyd Magsoy said.

“The Palace is already hell-bent on covering up this US and Aquino concocted carnage,” he said.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also criticized Aquino for claiming that he did not order the SAF commandos to carry out a suicide mission in Mamasapano.

“Even so, the operation turned out to be a suicide mission because of the fatal flaw in its design,” KMU chairman Elmer Labog said.

“Shocked by the unexpected number of casualties on the PNP-SAF’s side, Aquino immediately thought of how to insulate himself from any responsibility for the operation. Ordering the military to step in would expose him as the operation’s commander so he ordered them to stand down,” he said. 

Presidential review

At Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made clear the Chief Executive would review the result of the investigation of the Board of Inquiry into the Mamasapano incident.

“As is normal with the President, he would have to look at it himself,” Valte said.

“As is his preference, he always goes through... I mean, at least media-wise, if you want to know his position or at least his thoughts on what the results are, the President has always been – as is his habit, to go through it himself,” she added.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, for her part, said she would prefer that the MILF furnish her a full copy of its own investigation.

She was commenting on MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal’s statement that they would only provide the government, including the DOJ, a copy of their executive summary of its investigation.

At the House of Representatives, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the chamber is unlikely to revive its probe on the Mamasapano incident unless the BOI report turns out to be unsatisfactory.

“The decision (to reopen inquiry) lies with the chairmen and the House leadership. If the BOI inquiry is satisfactory, we’ll rely on it, consider it (Mamasapano incident) a closed matter,” Belmonte told reporters Thursday night. – With Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan, Delon Porcalla, Mayen Jaymalin, Rhodina Villanueva, Cecille Suerte Felipe