Bato vows justice for SAF 44

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is still hopeful that justice will be served to the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were killed in the January 2015 Mamasapano clash.

“We will not stop finding justice hangga’t hindi ma-achieve ‘yung justice sa mga bereaved families,” Dela Rosa told reporters Wednesday, a day before the third anniversary of the infamous clash.

“Mga pulis namin 'yun so kailangan talaga. We will continue seeking justice.”

Dela Rosa was part of the Board of Inquiry operational audit team that listened to the testimonies of the survivors. He said it was a very emotional experience for him and the rest of the team.

“Habang nagre-relay ng kanilang ordeal 'yung mga survivor ay tumutulo ang luha namin kaya masama ang loob [namin] dahil feel namin ang kanilang paghihirap,” he said.

On January 25, 2015, under cover of darkness, the SAF members were sent to Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, to neutralize international terrorists Zulkifli Bin-Hir alias Marwan and Bassit Usman.

The police commandos were able to kill Marwan but they were ambushed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed groups in the area.

Eighteen MILF members and three civilians were also killed in the incident, which put in question the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III,  former PNP chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas are now facing charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the clash.

The Offfice of the Ombudsman charged Aquino for influencing Purisima, who was forced to defy his preventive suspension and the PNP chain of command, in planning the operation.

The Sandiganbayan has consolidated the graft and usurpation cases of Aquino with that of Purisima and Napeñas.

Aquino has argued in his motion before the anti-graft court that he had "every right and authority" to consult with Purisima regarding the operation.

He said the utilization of Purisima's services, the instruction for him to receive reports and recommendations on the operation, and the easing out of then-PNP officer in charge Leonardo Espina and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas from the operation were only his "lawful exercise of presidential powers." —KBK, GMA News