Napeñas: MILF wants to discredit truth

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas on Monday insisted that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is attempting to discredit the truth following President Benigno Aquino III's statement that the government is looking into an "alternative version" of the Mamasapano incident.

"Gusto nila i-divert kasi yung katotohanan na MILF ang pumatay doon sa 44 and yet wala pang katarungan sa kanila," Napeñas said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

The former SAF chief stressed that the alternative version is an insult to the 44 police commandos that were killed during an encounter against Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.

"Kung pwede naman pala 'yan i-abot na (sa) silver platter bakit kailangan pumasok 'yung tropa namin for operations na ganyan. Namatayan pa kami nang marami," Napeñas added.

Napeñas pointed out that Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed by the SAF.

"Ang katotohanan dito sa Mamasapano incident, isa lang... si Marwan ay pinatay ng Special Action Force troopers na nagsagawa ng legal, legitimate, lawful police operation against Marwan at may basbas 'yan sa pinakamataas na pinuno ng Pilipinas," the former SAF chief said.

On the other hand, Aquino admitted that the alternative version on the Mamasapano incident may be meant to muddle the issue.

The executive department is still looking into the whole truth about the Mamasapano operation.

RELATED: FULL TEXT: Senate panel's report on Mamasapano clash | DOCUMENT: PNP Board of Inquiry's Mamasapano Report | FULL TEXT: MILF report on the Mamasapano clash