Topacio, SAF 44 kin ask Gordon to reopen Mamasapano probe, want Aquino to testify

Relatives of some of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were killed in the infamous Mamasapano clash trooped to the Senate on Tuesday to ask Senator Richard Gordon to reopen the chamber's investigation on the incident, with a testimony from former President Benigno Aquino III.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) who went with the kin of the SAF 44, said they want the Senate probe reopened after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to shelve his earlier plan to create a fact-finding commission on the January 2015 clash.

“We will respectfully request Senator Gordon kung maari [buksan ulit] para yung buong storya [malaman], kasi putol yung storya, bitin yung storya,” Topacio said.

Gordon is the chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, as well as the blue ribbon committee.

In the previous Congress, it was the Senate committee on public order chaired by Senator Grace Poe who led the Mamasapano probe.

Poe said then that Aquino, as commander in chief of the police force, was “ultimately responsible” for the January 25, 2015 Mamasapano mission, which killed more than 60 people, including the 44 SAF members.

Topacio said they want to hear the story straight from Aquino during a Senate investigation.

“Nung nagpro-probe, nakaupo pa si Pangulong Aquino kaya napakaraming legal repercussions kung siya’y ipapatawag — separation of powers, may immunity as chief executive — na ngayon ay wala na,” Topacio said.

“Ano ba talaga ang nangyari yung mga moments na kinakatay ‘yung ating kapulisan sa Mamasapano? Anong ginawa niya, bakit ginawa ito at anong kadahilanan,” he added.

Telly Sumbillo, mother of slain PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla, said justice has yet to be served on the SAF 44, who were killed when they clashed with Muslim rebels while performing a mission to neutralize two high-profile terrorist targets in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“Pinapanood lang nila ang mga commandos hanggang sa patayin, hanggang sa katayin. Nandoon lang nanonood [sa Zamboanga],” Sumbillo said.

Topacio said they also want former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima to face the committee.

“Hindi malinaw eh. Nahihiwagaan kaming lahat kung bakit andun si Purisima,” Topacio said.

Purisima and former SAF commander Director Getulio Napeñas Jr are facing charges before the Sandiganbayan over the Mamasapano clash.

Meanwhile, at least three complaints have been filed by families of the slain commandos against Aquino. —KBK, GMA News