Rody on SAF 44: Noy apology not enough

Truth commission eyed; Duterte meets SAF families

MANILA, Philippines – The buck stops with the highest official involved in the disastrous Mamasapano raid and that is former president Benigno Aquino III.

President Duterte made this clear yesterday as he called on Aquino to answer certain questions about the counterterrorism operation that led to the deaths of 44 members of the elite police Special Action Force (SAF) two years ago.

The President also raised the possibility of creating a truth commission composed of Supreme Court justices and private individuals to look into the case.

Duterte aired his sentiments before relatives and loved ones of the fallen police commandos at Malacañang gathered for the commemoration of the tragedy, which took place in a cornfield in Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

At the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa also revealed a recommendation to have Aquino charged for the raid.

Aquino deferred comment, telling The STAR in a text message that he would hold a meeting today and “probably respond in two days’ time.”

At the start of his speech, Duterte said he wanted his predecessor to answer questions about the Mamasapano operation – something investigating bodies did not ask for when Aquino was still in power.

“Itong Mamasapano, I would like to lay the predicate. I will address myself to former president Aquino. I do not have any quarrel with you. I do not want to disturb your life now that you are retired and so with general (Allan) Purisima and the others,” he said.

Purisima, then under suspension, reportedly was in direct command of the operation.

Duterte said he was wondering where the $5-million reward for the capture of terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, ended up. Marwan was killed in the operation.

Duterte noted many questions remain unanswered two years after the incident.

“Why send SAF when SAF is organized and geared into the service to meet the challenges of urban terrorism? Urban is urban. It should only be in the city,” he said.

He also wondered why soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were not deployed for the operation.

“And they are practically surrounding the Mamasapano area. Why were the Army not deployed? And why was it under wraps? And why did you keep it secret that this was actually an operation of the CIA?”

The CIA or the US Central Intelligence Agency, he said, intervened in the operation.

“Sabihin mo sa Pilipino, sabihin mo sa akin kung paano ka nagkasala? At anong ginawa ninyo bakit (Tell the Filipino, tell me why you failed, and what you did that) you fed the soldiers to the lion’s den, to be eaten by death?” Duterte said.

His police chief also said all officials involved in the Mamasapano operation – including Aquino – should be held liable and charged for the death of the 44 SAF commandos.

He said it was the recommendation of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) that the highest official involved in the operation to arrest terrorist Marwan be slapped with criminal charges.

When asked if former president Aquino should be included, the PNP chief said it was part of the recommendation of the BOI. Also recommended to be charged was Purisima.

Dela Rosa said he hopes to see the families of the slain commandos getting justice under the term of President Duterte.

“I am waiting for the instruction of the President,” he said, adding Duterte is expected to issue separate instructions to the Department of Justice, possibly regarding the filing of charges.

“Yung pulis tapos na, kung may lalabas na warrant yung pulis tutulong (The police work is done, but if there’s a warrant to be issued we will help),” he added.

Dela Rosa participated in the rites commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the Mamasapano massacre at the PNP Academy compound in Silang, Cavite.

The PNP chief and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno laid a wreath at the monument to the fallen SAF commandos.

“How we wish na mabigyan ng tuldok yung kaso ng (we can conclude the case of the) SAF 44. Dapat matapos na yan at mabigyan ng hustisya (That should be concluded and justice served),” said Dela Rosa, who was part of the BOI.

Dela Rosa said the President wanted to know more about the case, but “not for any political reasons.”

While Aquino accepted responsibility when he was president, Duterte thinks it was not enough to get him off the hook.

“Let it be brought to the open. It was an American adventure with the cooperation of some and apparently with your blessing,” said Duterte.

“You were sweating when you went on national TV, and you were so stressed and you said, ‘it is all my fault’, but it is not enough,” Duterte said.

Before his speech, relatives of the SAF 44 namely, Guillermo Tria, father of slain Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria; John Anniban, father of Senior Insp. Cyrus Anniban; Melanie Duque, wife of PO3 Andres Duque Jr; and Rohirmina Asjali, mother of PO3 Jed-in Abubakar Asjali, took turns asking for justice for the fallen policemen.

Erica Pabalinas, widow of Insp. Ryan Pabalinas, also issued the same appeal when she introduced the families.

They also asked for the approval of higher pension, followed up on the release of remaining benefits, housing, scholarships for children and jobs for the widows.  They also said they wanted their slain relatives to receive the highest recognition for bravery, which is the Medal of Valor.

Rojan Luther Senen, with ‘SAF44’ shaved into the back of his head and wearing a shirt bearing the image of his fallen father, holds on to his mother during President Duterte’s dialogue with the families of the SAF 44 commandos at Malacañang yesterday. KRIZJOHN ROSALES

Reinvestigate

Duterte also ordered the PNP to review the results of its earlier probe, as well as findings of the Senate which also conducted an inquiry that found political liability on Aquino.

“So I am asking Dela Rosa and you guys, Lito, study the matter very carefully and look that up. You know, if it’s sauce for the gander, it’s also sauce for the goose. Walang pinipili,” he said, giving orders to PNP chief de la Rosa and retired police general Catalino Cuy, now an undersecretary at the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Patay kung patay. So look into it, I’m directing you now and give me the result within, probably at the end of the month,” he said in a speech before widows and relatives of the slain SAF 44 who were gathered in Malacanang in a dialogue with the President on the eve of the failed operations.

The families also called on President Duterte to declare Jan. 25 of every year as a national memorial day for the slain troopers.

“Tutal nandiyan na ‘yung records hindi naman kailangan mag-imbestiga-imbestiga. Look at the records of the Senate and everything. And if you think as a soldier that the 44 deserve the Valor, then recommend it and I would give it to them. All of the soldiers, the 44,” he said.

“It carries with it certain privileges befitting the death of their loved ones serving the country. And I will create a commission of seven kagaya ng (like the)  Agrava Commission noong panahon ni (during the time of) Marcos,” he said.

Duterte also ordered the creation of a truth commission to be composed of three Supreme Court justices and private individuals, to look into the circumstances that led to the botched Mamasapano raid in 2015.

Duterte said he wants the commission to have the same intensity and authority of the Agrava Commission, the board formed by former strongman Feridnand Marcos to look into the assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Aug. 21, 1983.

When Ninoy’s widow Corazon was sworn in as president in 1986, she created the Fernando commission to investigate the assassination of her husband.

Duterte also questioned the role of former presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles, who recommended the military stand-down to avoid a war with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Addressing Deles, Duterte said: “And ma’am, si Deles, I do not want to, you know, belabor. Ikaw ‘yung peace negotiator. And para sa akin, ikaw ‘yung nagpigil kay P-Noy na huwag because war will break out, because then you have violated the agreement that you should not enter MILF territory.”

‘Who killed them?’

It’s the truth that Helen Mejia still longs for, two years after the death of her son – Police Officer 2 Ephraim Mejia – in a remote cornfield in Mamasapano.

“Who killed them? Who should be held answerable for their death? Managot ang dapat managot (Someone should be held accountable),” she told The STAR in an interview in Pangasinan yesterday.

She said up to now she still cries whenever she remembers her son, or sees men in uniform. Ephraim, she said, would have turned 35 this year.

His widow Miya was in Manila yesterday for the dialogue with President Duterte. She and their four-year-old daughter live in Pangasinan.

“They are okay but it would have been better if Ephraim were still alive,” Helen said.

“Life was never the same again. He was our breadwinner then,” Helen said of her son. She recalled Ephraim would come home every three months and would ask her what pasalubong (gift) she wanted him to bring her. – Eva Visperas