‘Closure,’ justice to SAF 44 pushed before 2016 polls

De Lima, Roxas urged: Get over unfinished business 

VIGAN CITY- “Closure” and justice for members of the police special action force killed in January by Muslim rebels is now being pushed by concerned groups and individuals before the May polls next year. 

A party-list lawmaker last week got the support of the Council for Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) for seeking justice for the slain commandos dubbed SAF 44.

Antonio Aquino, director for special projects and media relations chief, said the action of party-list Rep. Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) urging Department of Justice Sec. Leila de Lima and Interior Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II not to terminate any pending or unfinished business in their departments, particularly the case of the SAF 44 is timely and came at a time when election is fast-approaching.

A former PNP general and director of CIDG, Pagdilao, said in a statement  that “It must not be forgotten that on January 25, 44 members of the PNP- SAF were killed  while performing an official mission sanctioned by no less than the President. This is one of the many unfinished businesses of the Aquino administration, particularly of the DILG, under the leadership of Roxas, which made the headlines. The majority of our people are crying for justice.”

Pagdilao recalled the gallantry and heroism of the members of the PNP-SAF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25 who served warrants of arrest on Basit Usman and Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, both with alleged links to the terrorist group Jema’ah Islamiyah but were mowed down by Muslim Islamic Liberation Front rebels. 

Aquino said the action of Pagdilao urging Roxas, being the head of the DILG and PNP, to facilitate closure of pending cases before his office  should be made  priority before he steps down from his office and move on to the next chapter of his political career.

“This might just be one of those acts that the people are waiting from Roxas before they support him as President Aquino’s heir,” Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao added,  “The pursuit of the case rests on the DOJ’s Leila de Lima’s shoulder, where it remains hanging. Now that her running for the Senate seems highly probable and her endorsement by the administration not far behind, her resignation is also bound to happen. Thus, she must consider the pending case against those MILF involved  in the Mamasapano her unfinished business. While the 2016 elections is looming in the distance, political agenda should not overshadow the government’s promise to give justice to the family of SAF 44,” the lawmaker added.