PNP-SAF pleads: Please stop sharing alleged Mamasapano video

Philippine National Police-Special Action Force spokesman Captain Jayson Baldos on Wednesday confirmed to GMA News Online that the men featured in a video clip circulating on Facebook as being brutally killed by gunmen were indeed members of the SAF.

 

In a phone interview, Baldos said the patches and uniforms of the men in the video showed that they were from the elite unit.

 

He also urged the public to refrain from sharing the video showing the brutal killing of their colleagues.

 

"Panawagan sana na hangga't maaari, itigil na nila ang pagsha-share kasi hindi lamang ito masakit para sa family, pero siyempre masakit rin para sa'min sa SAF," he said.

 

"'Yung paglabas nito, parang dinagdagan 'yung suffering ng hindi lamang ng family, kundi pati rin ang members ng SAF. Degrading ito, ang pagpatay," he added. "Fresh pa ang wounds."

 

During the House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday on the Mamasapano incident, P/Supt. Rey Ariño of the PNP-SAF said he has seen the video and can identify the person in it.

 

"Yes, he is a SAF officer assigned in 55th SAC," he said.

 

Still confirming

 

Baldos said they are still confirming if it was taken during the Jan. 25 clash between the elite policemen and members of the Moro Islamic  and BIFF in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

 

"Kinokontak pa natin ang battalions," he said, noting that this includes the battalion of the fallen troopers' 5th Battalion, which is based in Zamboanga City.

 

Asked for the identity of the gunmen in the video, Baldos said they are still verifying.

 

The six-minute video clip, entitled "Story behind of Mamasapano," was uploaded by a certain Zaldy Baldz Suson on Facebook.

 

The video, believed to be taken by one of the attackers, showed a wounded trooper on the ground, being shot several times until he was dead.

 

After the death, the attacker then proceeded to the other dead troopers, and also stripped them of their gears and equipment.

 

The video, which draw flak from angry netizens, also showed other gunmen getting the gears of other troopers on the ground. —JST, GMA News