The sorrow, frustration and anger over the deaths of 44 SAF members in the hands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and their classmates wearing reversible jackets bearing the BIFF insignia, according to a columnist writing for a Manila-based broad sheet, have caused unrest in the population, the military and the Philippine National Police.
In the face of so much uncertainty, people are closely monitoring developments in the military and the PNP – institutions that could stage a mutiny and effect a change in government just like in the banana republics of Latin America. I think the military is just waiting for things to happen, while the PNP is trying to channel its resentment in peaceful assemblies aimed at expressing sympathy for families of the Fallen 44. This, as the rank and file are still weeping over the tragic end of their brothers in the service.
In a previous column, I wrote that the slaughter of the SAF 44 has caused a political firestorm, wherein the anger of the people and the action or inaction of President Aquino have become winds that sustain the conflagration.
The outrage over the Mamasapano massacre went on overdrive when the President did not admit responsibility but confessed that suspended PNP Chief Allan Purisima was giving him advice on the “intricacies” and “jargon” of Oplan Wolverine – a top secret operation by the elite Special Action Force of the PNP to extract two high-valued Jemaah Islamiya members holed up in the MILF territory in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao.
That the President did not condemn the savagery of the killings and even skipped the arrival ceremonies in Villamor Airbase to honor the SAF 44 practically poured more fuel on the fire.
In an effort to stop the blaze now spreading all over the country, the government is poised to investigate what really happened but the sheer number of investigations by different branches of government, the MILF and one international body dooms the whole undertaking.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines was the first to launch a probe and release a report which cleared military ground commanders of any culpability over the lack of reinforcements for the SAF troops. The investigation report is consistent with news reports quoting unnamed sources that the AFP was kept out of the top secret operation. Relieved SAF commander Getulio Napeñas Jr. disputed the AFP report, saying there was “adequate coordination” between the SAF and the military with respect to Oplan Wolverine which started as early as April 2014.
Two days from now, the Board of Inquiry will open its own probe into the massacre. Created by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, the BOI is composed of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Benjamin Magalong as chief, Director Catalino Rodriguez and Chief Supt. John Sosito as members, and an operational audit team composed of four senior police officials. Roxas assured the public that there would be no sacred cows in the PNP-led probe.
Meanwhile, President Aquino also instructed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to investigate the Mamasapano massacre. She will be aided by the National Bureau of Investigation, the PNP and even the BOI will consider her requests if she needs any assistance.
For sure, the MILF will not be scarce in the media while all these investigations are going on. The group will probe the bloody incident which claimed the lives of 14 Muslim rebels.
Count Congress to be on board the investigative fray. A parallel probe by the House of Representatives and the Senate is in the offing. There have been calls for the Lower House and the Senate to consolidate their efforts, but I doubt this is going to happen.
And last but not the least, the government peace panel and the MILF will jointly look into the bloodbath through the International Monitoring Team. The IMT is composed of soldiers from Malaysia, Brunei, Libya, Indonesia. Reports say conflict resolution experts from Japan, Norway and the European Union will cooperate with the soldiers. The international body has been helping enforce the ceasefire between the Philippine government and the MILF since 2003.
As I write, I picked up news reports that the Commission on Human Rights has already started its own probe on the January 25 bloodbath.
Because there are eight separate investigation bodies that will look into the Mamasapano massacre, the case is bound to become the most investigated crime in history.
I wonder if we are really on our way to uncovering the truth, or we are in to hear eight different versions of it.
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