MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte had promised to uncover the truth behind the Mamasapano tragedy that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday.
Roque said justice for fallen SAF 44 heroes remain elusive exactly three years after the botched police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“President Rodrigo 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, father, brother, or son,” Roque said in press statement.
He called on all members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look back to the sacrifices 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,” Roque said.
Roque also urged the Filipino people to offer “most solemn prayer” for the 44 elite forces of the PNP.
“We also pray for their bereaved families that their grief may soon be appeased through the attainment of justice,” he said.
Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 on Feb. 21, 2017, declaring January 25 as a Day of National Remember for the SAF 44 killed in the failed police operation dubbed as “Oplan Exodus” on Jan. 25, 2015.
The Oplan Exodus was planned to capture Malaysian terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli Adhir alias Marwan and Filipino terrorist Abdul Basit Usman.
The SAF troopers were able to kill Marwan but an 11-hour encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) guerrillas had left 44 of 392 SAF troopers, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians dead. (PNA)
