Unearthing the truth aboutMamasapano

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Obviously, the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano tragedy wherein 44 police commandos were killed by Muslim guerillas,has opened old wounds.

 I stayed glued on TV starting Wednesday on the investigation and it seemed all those who were involved are out to save their own skin

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who persuaded a Senate panel to reinvestigate the Mamasapano tragedy, citing new evidence, said obviously, some were lying. Sen. ChizEscudero said nobody was taking responsibility for the disaster.   

This, as President Aquino said several groups and individuals are using the Mamasapano tragedy for sinister ends, especially to sow division in the police and the country in general. Aquino made these statements Tuesday during commemoration of the first anniversary of the carnage. “Some would take advantage of the controversies in your ranks to create disunity, to use the tragedy for selfish agenda,” Aquino said in a speech delivered in Filipino at Camp Crame.

Aquino posthumously awarded two Medals of Valor to two of the 44 slain SAF troopers – Chief Insp. GednatGarambasTabdi and Police Officer 2 Romeo CumanoyCempron for exceptional heroism.

In his speech, Aquino said he was wondering why justice has remained elusive for the fallen commandos, adding he couldn’t help but compare the pace of the investigation with that of the Boston marathon bombing in the US. In the US incident, authorities were able to make the perpetrators account for their crime just after a year.

“Like you, I’m getting impatient with the slow pace of justice in this country. As they say, justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. But then, the buck stops at him as Chief Executive.

Aquino met with families of SAF troopers after the ceremonies, according to Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office. Reports however said some families didn’t attend the ceremonies as a form of protest on Malacanang’s handling of the incident and the President’s role in it.

Coloma said the President discussed with the SAF families the implementation of various forms of government assistance.He said Aquino has “instructed concerned government officials to exert all efforts to extend the needed assistance to the families.” 

Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, meanwhile, appealed to some groups not to politicize the quest for justice for the 44 slain commandos. 

The government on Monday vowed justice for 44 police special action force officers who died in a southern Philippine clash a year ago, in an incident that also threatens to unravel the peace deal with Muslim rebels.

Aquiino led the tribute and awarded citations to the fallen officers in a somber ceremony at the police national headquarters. He said paying with their lives was the ultimate act of heroism that showed “exceptional service to their fellowmen and the flag.”

“We all know that inspite of the award and the financial assistance, we will never equal the loss of your loved ones,” Aquino told the solemn crowd, which included the grieving widows and children of those slain.

“The wound caused by this tragedy will not heal if one year after, justice remains elusive for their deaths. The question is, why haven’t we made those responsible answer for their deaths?,” he asked, comparing the quest for justice to the Boston marathon attacks in the United States, where the suspects were charged within a year.

“Like you, I am frustrated by the slow grind of our justice system in our country. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said, vowing that he remains committed to seeking justice for the attacks.

Aquino did not say in detail how he would help speed up the process, but he held a closed door meeting with the families of the slain officers. 

The slain officers were killed by elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after they apparently entered a stronghold of the group in the town of Mamasapano without prior notice, triggering a clash. The deaths threw a monkey wrench to a peace deal signed in 2014, which would create an expanded Muslim autonomous region in the south and the gradual decommissioning of rebel ranks.

Legislators who said they wanted more time to study a planned legislation, necessary for the deal to proceed, in a move that peace watchers in Manila predict could lead to the demise of the pact.

The Aquino government had earlier insisted the police operation was above board, and led to the death of Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, a known international terrorist.

But a congressional probe carried had also unearthed certain disturbing inconsistencies, including a testimony by the national police’s chief then that he was unaware of the mission, which apparently was spearheaded by a general that was suspended at the time but enjoyed Aquino’s confidence.

Sen.  Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meanwhile urged the government to speed up investigations and file charges against those responsible, warning the Mamasapano case risked dragging through the justice system.

He cited the case of the Maguindanao massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 58 victims including 34 journalists in 2009, in what is believed to be the biggest casualty among members of the press in a single day.

That case remains in court, with one of the main suspects recently dying in jail due to natural causes.

“The fact that this controversial case, which has been declared as single deadliest event for journalists, has not been resolved until now does not bode well in terms of gauging the justice system in the country. I remain hopeful that the case will finally be resolved and that those responsible will finally be held accountable, and this is my same hope for the SAF 44 case,” Marcos said.

Marcos is one of the senators who questioned the BBL.

Pundits are now saying it would have been better to reopen investigations on the matter after the elections so those involved would have been out of government so they would not influence outcome of the probe.    

Others are saying the investigation pushed through so senators, particularly those who are running, would get precious sound bitesand exposure before the May polls. But then what else in new?