Napeñas: SAF men killed Marwan in Mamasapano operation

 

Special Action Force troopers killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, in an operation in a Maguindanao town in January, former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas Jr. insisted in the face of a supposed "alternative" version of the anti-terror operation.

 

In a report on "24 Oras" aired Sunday evening, Napeñas said the SAF has proof that its men killed the terrorist, adding Senate and Philippine National Police investigations into the clash that left 44 troopers dead had the same conclusions. 

 

Napeñas made the statement in response to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report quoting an unnamed Moro Islamic Liberation Front source said Marwan's aide was responsible for the terrorist's death.

 

According to the Inquirer report, the SAF troopers arrived at Marwan's hut in a remote area of Mamasapano town when the terrorist was already dead.

 

The mission, which led to a firefight between the SAF and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed groups in the area, was conducted against three international terrorists in the area.

 

The MILF has maintained that its men, who had not been informed of the operation as agreed to in ceasefire protocols, were acting in self-defense.

 

Aside from the SAF troopers, 17 MILF fighters and five civilians were killed in the clash.

In a forum organized by the Inquirer last week, President Benigno Aquino III said the government is looking into an "alternative version of events" in the operation against Marwan.

Charges have already been recommended against more than 90 people, including MILF commanders, over the deaths of the SAF troopers. — JDS, GMA News