Five months after Mamasapano clash, SAF 44 kin still crying for justice

Five months after the bloody Mamasapano incident, the relatives of the 44 police commandos killed in action are still seeking for justice.

"We have never achieved justice for Joey's death," Alberto Porticos told GMA News Online on Tuesday. His nephew, Police Inspector Joey Gamutan, was found mutilated following an encounter with Moro rebels on January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

"Parang wala na po silang pakialam. Kinalimutan na nila ang nangyari sa SAF 44," said Flavio Sagonoy, whose son, 26-year-old PO1 Joseph Sagonoy, was the youngest of the SAF troopers killed in the encounter.

"Palagay ko hindi umuusad iyong kaso kasi wala pa ring may nananagot," said Jennifer Allaga, widow of PO3 Robert Allaga.

The 44 police fatalities were tasked to serve arrest warrants against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman in Mamasapano.

The statements were made on the same day the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose members figured in the infamous clash with Special Action Force commandos, handed over 75 high-powered weapons as part of its peace deal with the government.

The MILF previously said they will not surrender the fighters involved in the clash.

Why hurry?

The relatives of the slain SAF commandos asked why President Benigno Aquino III seemed to be in a hurry to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) when there are still many things to be considered in the Mindanao region, like other Moro rebel groups and MILF's sincerity.

"Sincere ba talaga sila [MILF]?" Porticos said.

After the Mamasapano incident, many lawmakers also questioned MILF's sincerity in the peace process.

A viral video allegedly taken by an MILF fighter showed that some of the elite policemen were shot at close range. This was confirmed by autopsy reports.

"Pinapasa-Diyos na rin namin ang lahat lahat. Nawa'y naging tama lahat ang naging desisyon niya [Aquino] bilang ama natin," Porticos said. —KBK, GMA News