Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano apparently could barely contain his dismay over a recent ruling on criminal and administrative cases in connection with the infamous Mamasapano encounter that left almost four dozen police commandos dead.
Cayetano — who was among the senators who cross-examined police and peace panel officials in a series of Senate hearings in the wake of the January 25 bloodbath — said on Friday (July 24) that he was “deeply concerned” over the Ombudsman’s approval of a recommendation to conduct preliminary investigation that included even lower-ranking police officers.
He lamented that justice for Special Action Force (SAF) members killed in Maguindanao still had to be served and now, two of the survivors were facing cases.
“Gulat na gulat po ako nang pinaimbestigahan pati ang mga junior officers ng SAF. Isipin mo, kung ikaw ay isang police officer, police superintendent, o kaya colonel, kapag hindi ka sumunod sa utos na kunin ang teroristang si Usman o Marwan, kakasuhan ka ng insubordination. Ngayon, sumunod ka pero hindi perfect ang operation, at maraming namatay, pero nahuli ang terorista, kakasuhan ka pa din,” Cayetano said. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
[I was really very surprised that even junior officers were set for investigation. Just think of it this way, if you were just a police officer and you did not follow orders, you will be slapped with insubordination. Now, if you followed orders and the operation messed up, you will still face charges.]
While admitting that there were varying liabilities in the execution of Oplan Exodus, Cayetano said the Ombudsman’s decision demoralizes both police and military officials who were merely obeying orders — not to mention that it was “dishonoring the memory of SAF 44” and could lead to a chilling effect on the entire police chain of command.
Cayetano held that command responsibility over the failed operation should only rest with those who gave the orders — such as dismissed former PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima — and not the ones receiving them.
Thus, Cayetano wanted the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Grace Poe, to reopen its investigation into the botched police operation — which at the same time could reconcile the seemingly conflicting findings of various investigative bodies regarding the incident.
“The Senate committee, once and for all, should set out to reveal the entire truth behind this gruesome massacre,” he said, adding that finding justice for the deaths of the 44 elite cops should be a prerequisite for peace talks with Moro rebels.
On Wednesday, July 22, it was announced that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales had given the green light to a team of field investigators to proceed with the preliminary investigation involving various complaints against Purisima and former SAF head Dir. Getulio Napeñas — along with nine other officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) — in relation to the gruesome gunbattle.
Meanwhile, Poe said also on Friday that she shared Cayetano’s concern, but she would rather have the matter discussed in plenary first to determine if there would really be a need for further public hearings
