AFP fact-finding report: 6th Infantry Division did everything to aid SAF

On the morning of January 29, 2015, the remains of the members of the PNP Special Action Force slain in Mamasapano arrived at the Villamor Air Base. The fallen PNP SAF were accorded arrival honors, led by the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas, PNP Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang. (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA  — Based on the report of its own fact-finding committee, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday that the Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division did everything it could to help the hard-pressed Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers during the bloody encounter last Jan. 25.

In that fiery clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), 44 SAF men were killed in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao.

Earlier, Malaysian terrorist and bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was reported killed in the Mamasapano operations, although this has yet to be supported by solid evidence, including DNA tests.

Col. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, declined to give specifics on the fact-finding committee’s report but said the 6th Infantry Division managed to provide the necessary support to the SAF troopers during that fateful day.

He added that this can be borne out by the chronology of events which showed detailed communications between the leadership of the 6th Infantry Division and the engaged SAF men.

Padilla stressed that the chronology of events could actually become the basis for some of the investigative bodies that are now looking into the bloody clash.

Padilla said that all available information will be released during the investigation being conducted by the PNP Board of Inquiry.