SAF member slams AFP, maintains his team killed Marwan

From GMA News (Feb 1): SAF member slams AFP, maintains his team killed Marwan

[Video report]

A member of the Special Action Force (SAF) who was part of Oplan Exodus slammed the Armed Forces in last week's reopening of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano clash, even as he insisted that his team was the one that killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, the target of the operation on January 25, 2015.

In an exclusive interview by Sandra Aguinaldo on "24 Oras," the member of the 84th Seaborne, the SAF's assault team during the operation, said he even heard Marwan's last words before he died.

"Narinig ko na umuungol siya, iyong ungol na may tama na. Tapos sinasabi niya, 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.' Paulit-ulit siyang ganoon. Binigyan ko pa siya ng ilang putok pa," the SAF trooper said.

The SAF member, who refused to be identified because of another sensitive assignment, was denying a recent report that said Marwan, the brains behind the deadly Bali bombing in 2002, was killed by his own close-in bodyguard.

Over 60 people were killed in the operation, including 44 SAF members, now collectively known as SAF 44.

Marwan's identity was confirmed through DNA test. "Iyong approach namin sa bahay ni Marwan, tahimik, napakatahimik. Iyon na siguro ang pinakatahimik na madaling araw sa buhay ko," the SAF member said in the report, recalling moments before they swooped down on Marwan's hut.

AFP video The SAF member also expressed his disappointment on how the SAF was portrayed during last week's reopening of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano encounter.

 He said he was deeply hurt when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed a video that alleged some SAF members did not help their embattled comrades during the height of the encounter.

 "Masyadong nadurog iyong puso namin pati na mga pamilya ng mga namatayan. Ipinakita kasi nila doon na palpak ang SAF. Ang sagot ko sa kanila, paano naging palpak na napatay nga namin si Marwan?” he said.

 The SAF trooper also said he is disappointed with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Marine officer, for siding with AFP.

 "Ang masakit doon, talagang dinurog ni Senator Trillanes IV iyong SAF. Hindi lang iyong SAF, pati pamilya ng namatayan," he said. Not SAF, just Napeñas

 In a statement, Trillanes clarified that he was not putting the entire SAF down during the inquiry. He said he was just pointing out the mistakes of former SAF Director Gen. Getulio Napeñas and the other officials involved.

 "I made it clear na hindi buong SAF as a unit and palpak kundi si Gen. Napeñas at ang mga opisyal nila na nag-participate sa operation," Trillanes said.

"Na-accomplish sana nila ang kanilang mission na hindi sila namatayan ng mga kasama kung maayos ang pagplano ni Gen. Napeñas at kung namuno ng maayos ang mga company commanders ng 45th, 42nd, and 41st SACs (Special Action Companies)," he added.

The three SACs were supposed to help the 84th Seaborne and the 55th SAC, which served as the blocking force of the assault team.

 Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, head of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said it was not the intention of the military to put down SAF when it presented the video to the Senate.

"Nakita naman ng lahat, the slides were about the commandership and the leadership and the planning of General Napeñas. It was not about the SAF," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/553585/news/nation/saf-member-slams-afp-maintains-his-team-killed-marwan