MILF claims without evidences, SAF killed Marwan – PNP

FALLEN HEROES: The 44 members of PNP Special Action Forces killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Contrary to the findings of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) investigative team, the Philippine National Police (PNP) asserted that the Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos were the ones who killed international terrorist, Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”

According to an MILF report, Marwan, whose capture came with a $5 million bounty from the United States, was allegedly killed by his own aides. He was already dead when the SAF troopers engaged in a gun battle with the Moro rebels.

The investigators then supported their claims by noting that there were no indications of a gunfight inside the hut where the terrorist was residing. Although there were bullet holes in the hut’s walls, the location of these holes could not have targeted his chest, where he got wounded.

The MILF also pointed out that Marwan was shot at the back of his head. They could not, however, provide the identity of the aides who really killed him.

A military source, who requested to remain anonymous, confirmed the MILF claims, stating that Marwan’s aides, Datucan Singgagao and Candao Langalan, were ordered by a foreign agency to capture him.

“The plan was to get Marwan through the two assets. We know because the project was initially offered to us, but the consequences and the risks were too high that we did not take the mission,” the source said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) former chief Director Benjamin Magalong, however, stressed that their probe was immediately conducted a day after the incident. Therefore, their findings and evidences were more credible.

“Based on the evidence that we gathered, our SAF teams killed Marwan. They sacrificed so much and risked their lives. The SAF truly deserves the credit and all the honors,” Magalong said.

Even former police chief Panfilo Lacson also disputed the MILF findings.

“The new twist is just that – twisting the truth… That is the reason why the President has referred to it as the ‘alternative truth,’ which is beyond our comprehension, coming as it did from no less than the Commander-in-Chief,” Lacson said.

It can be recalled that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III earlier disclosed that there was an ‘alternative truth’ speculated regarding Marwan’s killing.

“It is unfortunate because it doesn’t do justice to the to the SAF troopers – whether they belonged to the fallen, wounded or unscathed – whose valor and heroism must not be diminished by [the MILF’s] assertions, which should be regarded as nothing but polluted, he added.