Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Almost nine months after Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as Marwan, was killed in Mamasapano in Maguindanao, alternate versions of the international terrorist’s death emerged.
Purported new information have led to doubts whether it was really the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers that killed Marwan.
In the alternative version, President Benigno Aquino III said it was made to look like other people killed Marwan and delivered the Malaysian terrorist’s finger to the government troops.
In a public address and a press conference on Thursday (September 17), Aquino said that the alternative version of Marwan’s death is baseless.
Photos as evidence
Aquino showed photos of Marwan’s body with complete fingers and a SAF trooper beside it, and another photo with Marwan’s finger already cut off.
Aquino insisted that these are strong pieces of evidence that could prove that it was a SAF trooper who killed Marwan and cut his finger off for DNA testing.
“Maliwanag sa presentasyon ngayon na SAF ang nanduon. Imposibleng pagdudahan pa na SAF ang kumuha ng daliri ni Marwan,” Aquino said.
According to the president, he instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to examine the SD card which contained the photos. He also said the report showed that the photos he presented were authentic.
“Pinasuri natin sa cybercrime division ng National Bureau of Investigation ang SD card na naglalaman ng mga larawang ito. Ang report, ‘Our forensic examiners concluded that the pictures are authentic and unaltered’”.
Aquino also implied that the alternative version was meant to distract the ongoing investigation and that the “truth peddlers” are interested in the reward money.
“Pagnagkaroon ng duda, para magkaroon sila ng puwang sa reward,” the president said.
Aquino admitted to reporters that there are many versions of Marwan’s death and the Mamasapano incident, but he said these versions must be supported by facts and evidence.
“Marami pang version ang alternative version… sa dulo, pruwebahan nyo,” said the president.
Marwan and another Filipino terrorist Basit Usman were the targets of the SAF operations in Barangay Tukanalipao on January 25.
Initial reports said while retrieving pieces of evidence on Marwan’s death, the SAF troopers were trapped in a firefight with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members, and MILF’s breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
According to different reports from the government, the MILF, and other Moro groups, the clash claimed the lives of 44 elite cops, at least 17 members of the MILF, and 7 civilian casualties.
Justice for SAF44 uncertain in Aquino’s term
This development has yet again brought back the issues on the tragic death of the SAF44.
The president said his mandate in enforcing the law is clear: “Find out who did it, file necessary charges, and bring those responsible to the bars of justice.”
Aquino, however, admitted that it may be difficult to finally put a closure to this incident during his term as the preliminary investigation is still ongoing.
