THREE years after the tragic Mamasapano encounter, Malacañang on Thursday, January 25, acknowledged the slow pace of justice for the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were slain in a bloody encounter with Moro combatants in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. gave assurance that President Rodrigo Duterte would exhaust all efforts to "uncover the truth" behind the bungled Mamasapano operation.
Roque said Duterte was keen to avoid a repeat of "such a waste of lives" as the country's troops continue to fulfill their mandate to protect and serve the Filipino people.
"Three years after the tragedy in Mamasapano, the cry for justice for our fallen SAF 44 heroes remains elusive," Roque told reporters in India.
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte does not wish a repeat of such a waste of lives and promising future of gallant Filipinos even as he vows to uncover the truth behind this botched operation and find a just closure for the bereaved families who lost a husband, brother, or son," the presidential spokesperson added.
On January 25, 2015, the SAF troopers carried out a law enforcement operation against two high-value targets, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan and terrorist Abdul Basit Usman. The botched operation, however, resulted in a firefight with Moro rebels.
The encounter claimed the lives of at least 67 individuals, including 44 members of SAF and Marwan. Usman, on the other hand, was later killed in another operation.
To remember the gallantry of 44 slain SAF commandos, President Duterte on February 21, 2017 issued Proclamation 164 declaring January 25 as "A Day of National Remembrance for the Heroic Sacrifice of the Fourty-Four Uniformed Personnel of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force."
Roque said the entire nation honors the "heroic sacrifice" of 44 members of the elite police force as it commemorates the third year anniversary of Mamasapano clash.
He said the government was optimistic that the grief of the bereaved families "may soon be appeased through the attainment of justice."
"The nation remembers the heroic sacrifice of the 44 uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force," Roque said.
"We call on all members of the police today to look back to the sacrifice of their fallen colleagues. Honor their memory by reliving their values of integrity and courage as you perform your duty to serve and protect the nation," he added.
Roque also called on fellow Filipinos to offer a "most solemn" prayer for the fallen SAF heroes, as well as for their families. (VoxPop Philippines)
