Espina vows charges vs. men behind 'overkill' of SAF commandos

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Thursday vowed to file charges against those behind the "overkill" of 44 policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January 25.

At a press conference Thursday, Espina said the PNP would first wait for the results of the investigation of its Board of Inquiry on the clash to determine who should be charged.

On January 25, the PNP-Special Action Force launched a clandestine operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bombmaker Abdul Basit Usman in a remote village in Mamasapano town, but figured in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants in the area.

The clash cast a shadow on the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF, less than a year after the two parties signed a peace agreement.

Espina said the BOI would determine if the police officers who led the operation are administratively or criminally liable for the deaths of the police commandos.

“There are lapses definitely, 44 ang patay,” he said, adding that charges may also be filed against members of the MILF and BIFF.

He described the incident as overkill, saying lack of coordination between the government and the MILF, who have a ceasefire agreement, was not an excuse to kill his men.

“As I have always said, overkill ito,” Espina said.

Purisima's order?

When asked if sacked PNP-SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas will also be liable after he admitted that suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima gave the go-signal for the operation, Espina said they would first need to wait for the results of the BOI investigation.

In an interview with reporters after the briefing, Espina said Purisima, being preventively suspended, could not give orders within the police organization.

But when asked if he has any information on whether some officials still seek for Purisima's advice or go-signal, Espina just said: “I don't know.”

On Wednesday, Napeñas said Espina had no knowledge of the Mamasapano operation until it was already underway.

He said Purisima ordered him to inform Espina of the mission when the commandos were already in the target area.

Espina has repeatedly said in media interviews that he was informed of the mission “after the fact” or only when the policemen were already locked in a firefight with the MILF and the BIFF. — KBK, GMA News