SAF families go after PNoy, Purisima 03/10/2015 6:27 PM By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

SAF families go after PNoy, Purisima

03/10/2015 6:27 PM
By RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Family members of some of the fallen 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos went after President Aquino and resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima as they trooped to Congress to urge lawmakers to re-investigate the Mamasapano incident.

The families maintained they do not buy President Aquino's explanations on the matter.

The families include: Erica Pabalinas, wife of PCL Ryan Pabalinas from General Santos City; Merafe Tayros, sister of PSI Rennie Tayros from Zamboanga del Sur; Suzette Tucay, fiance of PCL Gary Erana from Pagadian City; Telly Sumbilla, mother of PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla from Samar; Perlito Agabon, father of PO3 Chum Agabon from Iligan City; Dolly Cordero, sister of PO3 Roger Cordero from General Santos City; Felicitas Nacino, mother of PO3 Nicky Nacino from Isabela; Virgie Viernes, wife of PO2 Oliebeth Viernes from Isabela; and Anastacia Capinding, mother of PO2 Loreto Capinding from Isabela.

House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora joined the lawmakers who wrote the House leadership to reopen the investigation as it is a prejudicial question to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

"We have all signed a resolution and a petition to the Speaker and the House leadership that we resume the hearings on the massacre of the fallen 44. This is important from our point of view not just from minority's point of view... We are determined to make sure a hearing about Mamasapano takes place," Zamora said.

"Why is that important? In our point of view, you cannot talk about BBL...without determining the truth behind the Mamasapano," he added.

"The families of the fallen 44 are here. They have come on their own and they've come with just one message: Let's continue with the hearings. Let's make sure all the different points of view are heard... The families were asked if they believe every single word of the President's speech Monday. They answered in the negative, in chorus," Zamora said.

INCONSISTENCIES 

The families themselves noted the inconsistencies in President Aquino's statements.

"Di kami naniniwala. Paiba-iba po testimoniya niya. Ngayon sinisisi si [Getulio] Napeñas, bakit, di ba kasama si Purisima? Sa sinabi po ng anak ko, nag-text na di po siya pwede umuwi dahil utos ito ng kataas-taasan," said Telly Sumbilla, mother of PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla.

Rodora Cordero added, "Una sinabi niya sa media na wala siyang alam, sinabi niya nag-lie sa kanya si Napeñas. Pinakita niya cellphone sakin, may draft siya ng conversation nila... Dun ako nagtataka. First declaration niya, sabi niya wala siyang alam. Later on nagpakita ng 7 p.m. may extraction, then nagsabi walang coordination pero nakapag-coordinate kasi di totoo. Sinabi 55 SAF commandos pumasok, ang totoong pumasok is 13. Yun, sinasabi nag-lie sa kanya pero nag-lie lang, di niya dapat sabihin na wala siyang alam. May alam po siya."

"Tumagal sa table namin ang Presidente. Tinanong ko siya, mission accomplished, bakit pinabalik? Sabi niya kwentong kutsero," Cordero added.

Felecitas Nacino also said, "Magsabi po siya ng katotohanan, mula nang mangyari po. Kailangan marinig buong katotohanan."

Erica Pabalinas noted that when President Aquino spoke to them in Camp Crame, the President was not polite. "Follow-up questions na sa ibang family, may mga questions po sila, pero sagot ni President pabalag. Si Agabon nakarinig kasi malapit sila sa table."

REOPEN HEARING 

Cordero underscored the importance of a hearing.

"Pumunta kami dito kasi we want to resume the [public] hearing. Now, they started to kill the case. Ayaw namin na manahimik na lang. Hindi siguro maglalakas loob si Napeñas kung walang utos sa taas. Maybe there's someone behind him."

The families expressed displeasure at the progress of the Senate investigation.

Nicky Nacino, a father of one of the SAF 44 said, "Di kuntento sa ginagawang hearing. Di pa napapakita sa amin sino pinagmulan ng utos. Kaya hiling namin na sana buksan talaga hearing. Kasi ganito po iyan, natatakpan ang usapin sa SAF 44, nangingibabaw ang usapin sa BBL. Bakit BBL? Di pa natatapos SAF. Huwag iwanan ang SAF hanggang di na-clear."

Perlito Agabon said, "May question lang ako sa pangyayari nung January 25. May kasalanan ground operation, bakit tinuloy na di kumpleto sistema back-up? During sa operation kasi, may attacking force area na-occupy ng MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Dapat remaining PNP SAF dun ilagay. Na-underestimate ang capability ng MILF at saka BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters). Dapat yun kinonsider... Dapat managot sila diyan, dapat mauna yan kaysa BBL."

Sumbilla added, "Sino mananagot? Yung nag-utos. Di pupunta kung walang nag-utos sa kanila."

Ruby Senin said, "International terrorist pinuntahan. Di gagawin ni Napeñas na siya lang, di gagawin ni Purisima na siya lang. Imposibleng di alam ng Pangulo. Presidente po siya, imposibleng di niya alam."

Zamora also said, "The views of the families were not taken into account. This will give us a chance to provide views, points of the families. If anybody can talk about justice about what has happened with the families, it's the families themselves."