MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang took exception to doubts that the Board of Inquiry would be reliable in its probe over the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in a bloody clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

On Monday, February 2, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the accusations were “unfair.”

“Let me just state, for the Board of Inquiry, there have been speculations or already conclusions, judgments that…[because] the police is investigating themselves, that the findings may not be credible. That is pretty unfair,” he said.

“And I think that is sad that people would say that, considering that it’s the police force that lost lives. It’s the institution that has lost precious people. And more than these speculations, I think, the truth for them is much, much more important and trumps all speculations that people have been saying.”

He defended the board, who, he said, “will go to the bottom of the truth in this case.” The Board of Inquiry, created by the Philippine National Police (PNP). (READ: CIDG chief heads PNP’s Mamasapano probe)

Asked whether the Palace had any concerns about powerful people who would influence the findings, Lacierda said any investigating body should make sure to uphold its independence. (READ: Aquino to appoint Mamasapano truth body?)

“We will do injustice to the fallen 44 if there is such a thing. And that’s the reason why, if you want to give justice to the fallen 44, any investigative body – whether it’s a Board of Inquiry, the Senate, and the House – should really seek the truth. That’s the minimum requirement,” he said.

The police, the MILF, the International Monitoring Team overseeing the government and MILF’s ceasefire agreement, the Senate, and the Commission on Human Rights are all investigating the incident. Lawmakers also proposed the creation of a truth commission to probe the incident.

Lacierda also said it would be up to the bodies to summon suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima, a close friend of the President, who is alleged to have given orders in the operation despite his suspension.

He clarified they have yet to confirm whether reports that Purisima has left the country are accurate, adding they would verify with the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

On Sunday, January 25, some 392 SAF commandos entered Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, a known bailiwick of the MILF and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. They were targeting two “high value targets,” one of them alleged Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as “Marwan.” The operation ended in the killing of 44 SAF troopers. (READ: Dead or alive? Top terrorist was cops’ target)

The incident occurred less than a year after the MILF signed a landmark peace deal with the Philippine government, and as lawmakers deliberate on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which seeks to create an autonomous region initially headed by the MILF.

The MILF blames the failure of the PNP-SAF team to coordinate with them for operations in known MILF territories, as provided for in an agreement with the government.

State charges

Meanwhile, the MILF has also started its own probe on what happened, wherein members found guilty will be tried in a military court of the MILF.

Lacierda gave assurances, however, that the Department of Justice is also preparing to files their own charges.

“We have said that the MILF must demonstrate its sincerity that they are full partners in the peace process. We certainly will encourage them to help us find things that we need to search for the truth,” he said.


“What those are, what the mechanisms are, we have said that we will investigate and look for those who have been responsible.”

He could not give any details though on whether the government would undergo any formal steps to compel the MILF to surrender their men or firearms taken from the elite cops. Aquino however, has asked the MILF to do this as a sign of commitment to peace. – Rappler.com