'Oplan Exodus' operator: Don’t forget Mamasapano clash survivors

The sacrifices of those who survived the 2015 Mamasapano clash should not be forgotten, one of the survivors, Oplan Exodus operator Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Train said on Thursday.

During a ceremony commemorating the 9th anniversary of the encounter, Train said that the 44 members of the Special Action Force who died in the clash have already been honored for the past nine years.

“Ngayong taon, gusto ko sana namang pasalamatan at bigyang pugay ang aking mga kasamahang nabuhay (This year, I want to thank and honor my fellow survivors),” he said.

“Sa unang pagkakataon ako ay nananawagan na sana huwag din po nating kalimutan ang kanilang mga sakripisyo para sa seguridad ng ating bansa,” he added.

(For the first time, I will appeal that you should not forget their sacrifices for the security of our country.)

In a separate ambush interview, SAF chief Police Major General Bernard Banac agreed with Train saying that the cops who survived the Mamasapano experienced growth in their careers.

“Maliban doon sa pag-alaala natin doon sa yumaong SAF 44, mayroon tayong kasamahang mga pulis na survivors. Nariyan lamang sila at patuloy at tahimik na naglilingkod sa ating mga komunidad,” he said.

(Aside from remembering the late SAF 44, we have fellow policemen who are survivors. They are just there and continue to serve our communities quietly.)

“Sa paglipas ng siyam na taon sila naman ay umangat na rin sa kanilang mga karera bilang pulis. Sila ay na-promote at umunlad din ang kanilang karera bilang pulis,” he added.

(Over nine years, they have also improved in their careers as police officers. They were promoted and their careers as policemen also progressed.)

The survivors attended the ceremony for the National Remembrance of the Heroic Sacrifice of the SAF 44 held at the Philippine National Police Academy in Cavite.

Justice served?

Asked if justice is already served for the SAF 44, Banac said justice was "triumphant."

“Makikita natin na tagumpay ang hustisya rito at maging ang ating rule of law at batas. Nakita natin na tinatamasa natin ngayon, kapayapaan, kaayusan, kaunlaran sa buong bansa,” he said.

(We can see that justice is triumphant here and even our rule of law and laws. We have seen that we are now enjoying peace, order, and prosperity throughout the country.)

“Bahagi lamang sila, naging dahilan upang tayong lahat ngayon ay may tinatamasang kapayaapaan at kaayusan,” he added.

(They are just a part of, and have become the reason that we all now enjoy peace and order.)

But for former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas Jr., justice has yet to be served for the 44 SAF members.

"Not yet. Was there a case filed against those people who killed the 44? Until now, not yet," Napeñas said when asked if he thinks justice has already been served for the 44 SAF members. 

"I would like to see now mafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga pumatay, kasi pinatay nila, murder 'yun, minasaker nila, may buhay pa pinapatay... Do you think justice has been served na hindi nafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga 'yun?" he added. 

(I would like to see that cases would be filed against those who killed them, because that's murder, that's massacre. Do you think justice has been served when cases are not filed?)

"Is it enough na nagkaroon ng peace process noon? You'll be the judge," Napeñas said. 

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a secessionist group that has since signed a peace agreement with the government, were among those who engaged the SAF 44 in the encounter.

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted Napeñas and former PNP chief Alan Purisima of graft and usurpation charges for their involvement in the planning of the anti-terrorist operation that led to the deaths of the 44.

Oplan Exodus was the operation aimed at neutralizing terrorists Zulkilfi bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman. 

The elite commandos were killed when engaged by a combined force of fighters from the MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed elements in the area.

Marwan was killed in the operation, while Usman was killed by authorities later that year. —VAL, GMA Integrated News