Slain SAF trooper’s kin dismayed over slow probe

Relatives of one of the 44 Special Action Force troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 are becoming impatient with the slow pace of the investigation into the tragedy.

 

Janet Carap, widow of PO2 Peterson Carap, said probers should have already drawn conclusions after talking to survivors and studying other pieces of evidence.

 

"Nakausap naman nila lahat ng survivors eh. Lahat ng galing mismo, nakakita mismo ng nangyari roon," said Carap, widow of PO2 Peterson Carap, according to a report by GMA Dagupan's Mike Sabado.

 

"From that sana naman, hindi pa ba nila ma-conclude? Hindi pa nila makita kung sino talaga ang accountable sa nangyari?" she added.

 

The Board of Inquiry of both houses of Congress have agreed on what questions to ask regarding the clash between the SAF troopers and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The SAF troopers were killed last month as they conducted a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist and Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker and Abu Sayyaf member Basit Usman.

‘Why massacre?’

 

"It's not the matter of coordination, it's not the matter of who led the operation but it's the matter of why the (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) massacred, murdered the government troops (belonging) to the SAF," said Baguio City Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr.

Financial assistance

 

Meanwhile, at Monday's flag-raising ceremony of the Cordillera regional police, financial assistance of P50,000 was extended to the kin of 10 SAF members from Cordillera who were killed in the Jan. 25 incident.

 

Three families did not send representatives to the event. The financial help came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

 

Cordillera police spokesperson Superintendent Cherry Fajardo said there will be debriefing sessions for the families of those killed.

 

Also in the meantime, the Cordillera police will hold daily Masses for the slain 44. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News