Lawmaker blasts govt 'cover-up' of US 'boots on the ground' in Mamasapano

From InterAksyon (Apr 24): Lawmaker blasts govt 'cover-up' of US 'boots on the ground' in Mamasapano



 

A leftist lawmaker blasted what he called the Aquino administration’s continuing cover-up of alleged American direct involvement in the disastrous January 24 Special Action Force mission to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said on Friday the testimony of an eyewitness on the death of two “Americans” in the clash that broke out between the SAF and gunmen from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups during the Mamasapano mission “proves that the US involvement was more than just advisory and provision of real time intelligence information via its drone operations.”

The testimony of the eyewitness, known only by the codename “Marathon,” is contained in the report of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Prosecution Service special investigation team created by Justice Leila de Lima to investigate what happened in Mamasapano.

“Marathon learned that two Americans died at Mamasapano,” the report said. “According to him, these two cadavers did not look like Filipinos; they had white hair and were ‘good looking’.”

Although De Lima herself said the charges of direct assault complexed with murder and theft recommended against 90 suspects in the deaths of 35 of the 44 SAF commandos who died in Mamasapano were based mainly on Marathon’s testimony, she made no mention of the witness’ statement about the Americans when she made the NBI-NPS report public.  

Although Marwan was killed in the operation, aside from the SAF commandos, the clash also left 17 MILF fighters and at least three civilians dead.

In its report, the NBI-NPS team also recommended the continued investigation into the extent of US involvement in the Mamasapano operation, arguing that “criminal investigations and national security are not mutually exclusive.”

When she appeared at the last public hearing of the House of Representatives’ inquiry into Mamasapano, De Lima also went into a lengthy “academic discussion” that essentially justified the direct engagement of foreign forces in local military or police operations, so long as the Philippine government retained "absolute control."

Zarate said Marathon’s statement proved American “boot were on the ground in the execution of Oplan Exodus, in clear violations of our laws and Constitution. And, this fact is being covered up by the Aquino administration in like manner that President Aquino is hiding and covering up his direct involvement and accountability.”

Zarate said there could be no justice for the Filipinos who died in Mamasapano “if President Aquino and the US will not be made accountable.”

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/109381/lawmaker-blasts-govt-cover-up-of-us-boots-on-the-ground-in-mamasapano