The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said it will cooperate with the police Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigating the Mamasapano clash, according to a Philippine National Police (PNP) statement on Monday.
"We have nothing to hide, we will be very transparent and provide all necessary document and evidence to support the ongoing investigation by the BOI," AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. was quoted as saying in a PNP press release.
The BOI is headed by Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) head Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ingking, along with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Director Benjamin Magalong and Directorate for Research and Development head Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodriguez Jr.
The BOI has started its probe and has taken the statement of Director Getulio Pascua Napeñas, the head of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who was relieved following the Mamasapano "misencounter" and will be out from his post "pending the outcome of the board of inquiry."
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has said the BOI will tackle the "tactical level" of the firefight and will determine if there are any operational lapses that led to the firefight.
PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, for his part, said the board will determine if the officers who led the SAF operations would be administratively or criminally liable for the deaths of the elite police commandos.
Magalong said board investigators have documented a total of 286 sworn statements mostly from officers and personnel of the PNP-SAF who took part in the operation, AFP key officers and personnel in central Mindanao, and some civilian witnesses.
The BOI expects to get statements from at least 420 individuals to complete its investigation, Magalong said.
On January 25, the SAF troopers had a daylong firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.