Board begins probe of bloody Mamasapano clash

The police Board of Inquiry investigating the Mamasapano clash, in which 44 police commandos; 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters; and two civilians were killed, has started its probe into the incident.

 

According to a "24 Oras" report aired on Saturday evening, the board has taken the statement of Director Leo Napeñas, relieved Philippine National Police Special Action Force commander.

 

Fifteen SAF police officers involved in Sunday's clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano have also given their statements, the report added.

 

Meanwhile, acting SAF commander C/Supt. Noli Taliño said the BOI would look into whether PNP Director General Alan Purisima, who was suspended over a graft complaint in December, was involved in the operation.

 

Fielding questions after a televised speech last Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III said Purisima was involved in the planning of the operation until he was suspended.

 

“After [his suspension], siya na very knowledgeable about the whole thing, pinapaliwanag niya sa akin yung intricacies of what the plan presented to me was,” Aquino said.

The board of inquiry is headed by Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) head Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ingking and includes Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Director Benjamin Magalong and Directorate for Research and Development head Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodriguez Jr. 

Monitoring team visits clash site

 

According to a separate "24 Oras" report, the International Monitoring Team and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities visted Wahid Tundok , the commander of the MILF's 118th Base Command at his house in Dauti Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

 

There, the parties discussed details related to the incident. 

 

For his part, CCCH chairman Brig. Gen. Carlito Galvez also attemped to ease apprehensions on the MILF side, which considers the police operation a violation of a ceasefire agreement with the government. 

 

“We know the media went there. I believe the MILF temporarily vacated the area so that we have a way of access... particularly during the conduct of independent investigation,” Galvez said.

 

Before the meeting, the IMT and CCCH officials went to the encounter site in Brgy. Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town.

 

They were also supposed go to the house where international terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir (alias Marwan) was said to have been killed but did not proceed because of the distance and due to the tension in the area. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News