Palace on whoever has information on Mamasapano incident: Submit it to authorities

Mamasapano, Maguindanao

MANILA  — The Palace on Tuesday called on whoever has information relevant to the inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, to submit it to any of the bodies conducting the investigation.

“Kung sinuman po ang mayroong impormasyon na makakatulong doon sa pag-alam ng katotohanan hinggil sa naganap noong Enero 24, 25 sa Maguindanao, dapat lang siguro na isumite ito doon sa pagdinig na kasalukuyang nagaganap, para maisama ito sa pagturing ng mga mahalagang kaganapan at sa pagbabatid ng katotohanan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

(Whoever has information that can help determine the truth about what happened on January 24, 25 in Maguindanao, they should submit it to the probe so it can be included in the significant events and finally find the truth.)

Coloma was commenting on reports that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has cited US documents linking Malaysian terrorist, Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Marwan and bomb expert, Abdul Basit Usman, were the target of the police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 that resulted in the death of 44 members of the police’s elite force. The operation succeeded in neutralizing Marwan but Usman eluded arrest.

On the video footage showing members of the MILF training in their camps even with the ongoing ceasefire between the military and the rebel group, Coloma said the Armed Forces will not allow peace to be disrupted.

“Patuloy naman ang pagganap ng pamahalaan sa tungkulin nito na tutukan lahat ng mga pangyayari at kaganapan sa bansa na maaaring may kinalaman sa seguridad ng ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

(The government continues to fulfill its duties when it comes to observing events that has something to do with the security and safety of our people.)

“So kung merong mga aberrations o unusual events na hindi dapat nagaganap ngunit nagaganap, tinututukan ito at ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng nararapat para mapawi ang ligalig at maalis ang mga banta sa seguridad ng ating mga mamamayan,” said Coloma.

(So, if there are any aberrations or unusual events that shouldn’t happen but still occurred, we’ll investigate it and the government will do all appropriate actions to disperse anxiety and remove the security threat against our people.)