PNoy took 2 hours to reply to Purisima

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Prosecutors to inspect site of Mamasapano carnage

MANILA - State prosecutors who are members of the justice department's Joint Special Investigation Team probing the bloody Mamasapano encounter last January 25th between Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) commandos and Moro rebels will conduct their ocular inspection of the clash and operation site on February 26.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters that this is the final schedule given to her by Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera, Irwin Maraya, Gino Paolo Santiago, Jocelyn Dugay, and Ethel Rea Suril after the inspection did not push through this week.

ABS-CBN News had earlier learned that the Joint Special Investigation Team, which also includes agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), had sought clearance from the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCH) of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the conduct of the ocular inspection.

Forty-four SAF commandos were killed in the clash with fighters from the MILF, its splinter group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and private armed groups (PAGs).

The SAF commandos were on a special mission to serve outstanding arrest warrants for alleged Bali bomber Marwan, whose real name is Zulkifli bin Hir, and his Filipino cohort, Abdulbasit Usman.

The PNP has reported that Marwan was killed in the operation.

De Lima created the Joint Special Investigation Team upon orders of President Aquino. The team is tasked to do a fact-finding investigation into the incident, and undertake the necessary case build-up for the fiing of appropriate charges against those found responsible for the bloody clash.

The clash took place amid a ceasefire agreement between the GPH and MILF; the ceasefire agreement is part of ongoing peace negotiations between the two parties.

Public outrage ensued following the bloody encounter after it was found that several of the fallen SAF troopers were "finished off" and shot at "close range," and their firearms, ammunition and personal belongings taken by the rebels.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

SAF survivors open up to senators

MANILA, Philippines - Superintendent Raymond Train and PO2 Christopher Lalan, two of the Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos who survived the Mamasapano firefight, yesterday narrated the fierce battle they had to endure in a bid to escape the bloody encounter with Muslim rebels that left 44 of their comrades dead in Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

Train and Lalan gave their statements before the senators who went into executive session at around 4:30 p.m. after almost seven hours of open hearing that started at 10 a.m. at the plenary hall.

Senators were all ears as Train recalled events which started when he and his team of 36 operatives began their trek to the lair of terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, at 2:30 a.m. from their drop-off point near Maharlika Highway.

Train led the SAF’s 84th Seaborne Company in the assault on Marwan’s hut, located 250 meters from the drop-off point. Only 13 of the assault team were able to cross the river because of strong currents.

In a debriefing, Train said he and 12 of his men proceeded with the plan to get Marwan since the others were having difficulty crossing the river. He added some of his men almost drowned in trying to get across.

Train and his men reached the target at 4:15 p.m. Marwan opened fire at the SAF team after he was alerted by the presence of the lawmen surrounding his hut.

After the initial exchange of gunfire, SAF commandos attacked the hut and Marwan was shot in the chest. The team quickly took pictures of Marwan and severed his index finger, which was later turned over to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for DNA test.

Train said they decided to immediately withdraw from the area, fearing the exchange of fire could have alerted villagers.

Another target, Basit Usman, was able to escape the assault. His hut was about 70 meters away from Marwan’s.

Train also responded to queries of senators about how they managed to get out of the area up to the time they were rescued by a special team at 11:30 p.m. as validated by the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry.

Lalan, meanwhile, told the senators that he hid near a river dike as many of his 35 comrades crawled in the vast cornfields, then still awaiting rescue.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Suspended Purisima invited to Congress for Mamasapano probe

MANILA - The House Committee on Public Order and Safety has invited suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and other top officials of the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to the investigation on the January 25 Mamasapano clash.

The Manila Standard Today reported last week that Purisima was one of those who authorized the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) operation that led to the encounter with rebels.

The committee met Tuesday and agreed to set the hearing on February 11 at 9:30 a.m.

The committee had received letters from PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina and Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino begging off from the investigation today.

In his letter, Espina cited the need for the PNP to attend to the needs of the bereaved families of the 44 SAF members killed in the clash.

Batino sent a similar letter, citing the absence of the PNP.

Committee chairman Jeffrey Ferrer said, "My observation with two letters, it's valid reason... The leadership of the PNP will have also to attend to the needs of the family. In my point of view, in humanitarian consideration, I will grant the request and we will reset the hearing next week."

Ferrer told his colleagues that he immediately calendared a hearing after resolutions calling for a congressional investigation were filed soon after the Mamasapano incident.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, meanwhile, expressed apprehensions about possible schedule conflicts since the same resource persons will be invited to a parallel investigation of the Senate.

"There are parallel hearings in the Senate. As mentioned by the chair, this is really a very important issue. The whole country is watching. There are a lot of questions yet to be answered," he said.

Ferrer said, "Next hearing wala nang excuse. Dapat mag-attend na lahat."

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte had pushed for a joint Senate and House investigation on the matter.

Belmonte, in a text message, confirmed he has discussed his proposal with Senate President Franklin Drilon, who told him that he will take it up with the senators.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chef offers tribute dinner for kin of fallen SAF troops

MANILA – Local celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou wants to pay tribute to the 44 Special Action Force members who were killed in Maguindanao by doing what he does best – cooking.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Sarthou asked his fellow chefs to help him prepare a tribute dinner for the families of the slain SAF members.

Culinary professionals, food writers and event organizers were quick to respond to Sarthou’s call, with many of them offering to cook with him and promote the event.

A Facebook group dubbed “Chefs for Fallen 44” has been created to coordinate efforts, as well as similar accounts on Twitter and Instagram.


Police and military officers on Friday eulogized and paid tribute to the 44 SAF commandos, who were slaughtered by Moro rebels in a botched anti-terror raid in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao.

President Benigno Aquino III has declared January 30 a national day of mourning to honor the fallen heroes.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

SAF trooper's widow begs PNoy: Please help us

MANILA - The wife of a slain Special Action Force commando broke down in tears Friday as she begged President Aquino to pursue justice for her husband and other SAF troopers killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Speaking before the necrological service for the 44 slain SAF commandos, Erica Pabalinas, wife of slain Senior Inspector Ryan Pabalinas, said she was unsure if she should feel sad for losing a husband or happy that he died a hero and fought to his last breath to claim peace.

She said that before the incident, she tried to ask her husband not to go to the Mamasano operation.

"Naglalambing ako sa kanya. Sabi ko: 'Daddy, wag ka na lang po sumama kasi di ka pa ok.' And then, he replied: 'Mommy, ayan ka na naman. Hindi mo na naman naiintindihan.'"

"And then our little girl said to him: 'Daddy, wag ka na lang umalis kasi gabi na. Baka kunin ka lang po ng bad guys.'"

"Despite that, Ryan left. It is a clear manifestation that my husband put duty first before family and I understand."

Pabalinas said she has come to slowly accept that her husband cannot be with them anymore. She also told the wives of the other slain troopers to be strong and not think that all they wanted was the reward money for the capture of Marwan.

"For the grieving wives just like me, let us be strong for our children because behind every brave SAF trooper is a strong wife. Behind every SAF trooper is a strong wife," she said.

She then told the President: "To our President, we seek for your help to attain justice. Please, sir president. Please help us."

The 44 SAF commandos were killed by Moro rebels during an operation to hunt down terror suspects Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman.

The incident has threatened to derail peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com