Retired general claims there are 5 'mystery tapes' on Mamasapano

The purported audio recording of the conversation between a ranking official involved in the peace talks with Moro separatists and a lawmaker is just one of at least five “mystery tapes” that contain sensitive information about the 2015 Mamasapano incident, a retired general claimed on Thursday.

 

In a news conference, retired police chief superintendent Diosdado Valeroso said the source of the audio recording claims to have four other audio and video recordings in his possession.

 

“What was entrusted to us is just one of at least five mystery tapes. These mystery tapes, we learned, included an audio visual tape of the shots taken by the US military of the firefight between the SAF (PNP Special Action Force) commandos and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Someone also told us of the audio visual recording of the meeting between AFP and PNP officials during and after the Mamasapano massacre,” he said.

 

Valeroso earlier claimed that the audio clip in his possession is a “critical” piece of evidence on the botched Oplan Exodus or the anti-terror operation against suspected Malaysian terrorist  Zulkifli Abdhir, alias Marwan. 

 

Over 60 people, including 44 policemen from the PNP-SAF, were killed in the gun battle in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 25, 2015. Marwan, who was among those in the Most Wanted Terrorists list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, was also killed in the incident.

 

The Mamasapano incident spawned a political firestorm that buffeted the Aquino administration and threatened the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF.

 

Valeroso, who initially shot to prominence as one of the leaders of the Young Officers Union which carried out several coup attempts against the first Aquino administration, once served as comptroller of the PNP-SAF.

 

Days before the reopening of the Senate inquiry into the Mamasapano incident, Valeroso claimed to have in his possession an audio recording which he claimed would be "explosive". The said recording, he claimed, was sent to him by a "trusted source" via electronic mail.

 

In Thursday's briefing, Valeroso however denied that the recording in his possession was the purported conversation between Secretary Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

 

The recording was uploded on the Internet ahead of the Senate inquiry.

 

Marcos had confirmed it was him and Deles who were talking in the audio recording but denied they were talking about a supposed plot to cover up the Mamasapano incident for the sake of passing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

 

Addressing Marcos, Valeroso said: “Pardon me, Mr. Senator but I haven’t heard the recording of you and Secretary Deles. If such a taped conversation between you and Deles existed, why did you not go forward and expose what you talked about?”

 

Even as the retired police officer expressed readiness to publicly reveal the contents of the audio recording, he said he wants to await the Senate’s decision whether he would be allowed to present the recording.

 

“Pwede nating gawin ‘yun (iparinig ang audio recordings) pero hintayin lang muna natin ang desisyon ng Senado tungkol doon para hindi na sila (senators) mag-away tungkol doon. Pero nakahanda tayo,” he said. 

 

Senate President Franklin Drilon has warned that the unauthorized recording of conversations, as well as possession and communicating or furnishing transcriptions of such unauthorized recording is illegal and punishable under the law.

 

Partido Lakas ng Masa chairman Sonny Melencio, a supporter of Valeroso, said their group is mulling on asking Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs which is in charge of the Mamasapano probe, to summon the tape in Valeroso's possession so it could be played “once and for all.”

 

“We’re also considering holding an assembly so the tapes could be played. Kung gusto nila kaming harangin at arestuhin, they could do so. Another option would be using social media because it can’t be controlled. People can’t detect sino [ang nasa likod] noon,” he said. — APG, GMA News