Honasan to Espina: Let justice for Fallen 44 be your legacy

Let justice for the Fallen 44 be your legacy.

This was Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan's “advice” to his fellow military school graduate, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

On the third day of the Senate probe on the bloody Mamasapano encounter, Honasan called on Espina to fully commit himself to seeking justice for the 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were killed during the January 25 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao even after the police general retires from service.

“This [seeking justice for SAF troopers] must be part of your advocacy; this must be part of your turnover of command to your successor,” Honasan said.

“Whoever takes over from you, tell him ‘until we accomplish our mission—serving the warrants of arrest, and bringing those who mutilated our soldiers to justice, they will have to face the combined forces of the AFP, the PNP, the mass-base in Mamasapano and the entire Filipino people,” Honasan added.

Honasan advised Espina that the first step in seeking justice for the 44 troopers who died in Mamasapano is to rally public and military support in going after the killers.

Honasan issued the statement amid rumors that the PNP and the AFP’s relationship was strained by the Mamasapano incident.

“General Espina, first you talk to your mistah, [AFP chief of staff] General Greg Capatang, and the other military officers—in fact, most of you are classmates. Tell them that any group who stands in the way of serving warrants of arrest to those who killed and mutilated the SAF men will face the combined forces PNP and AFP,” Honasan said.

“And I am saying this in front of [MILF Peace Panel] Chairman Iqbal,” Honasan added.

On Wednesday, at a separate hearing at the House of Representatives, Espina emotionally decried the "overkill" of the SAF commandos and demanded an explanation from the MILF.

At the Senate, however, Iqbal and Espina shared a brief embrace shortly after the hearing was suspended.

Honasan pointed out to Espina that seeking justice for the Fallen 44 was “the best way of honoring them” and in turn would leave enable Espina a “legacy of peace.”

“Lastly, General Espina, you know what legacy you would leave to our children? You will leave a legacy of lasting peace. Para wala nang kailangang mamatay, that is going to be your legacy,” Honasan said.

Honasa, however, kidded that all the things he was saying to Espina were “not orders, but just suggestions,” an allusion to former PNP Director General Alan Purisima's assertion that he only gave "advice" to relieved SAF head Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas regarding the planning for the Mamasapano operation, not orders. — BM, GMA News