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Espina: PNP unaware of SAF operation, to probe lapses

MANILA, Philippines鈥揟he Philippine National Police (PNP) command group said it had no knowledge that the Special Action Force (SAF) will deploy almost 400 men to execute a large-scale operation against terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir known as 鈥淐ommander Marwan鈥 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

鈥淭he operation didn鈥檛 reach us (PNP command group). The board of inquiry will tackle this,鈥 PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said on Tuesday.

The 鈥渕isencounter鈥 of 392 elite cops with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led to the death of 44 policemen on Sunday.

The MILF camp claims that SAF commandos 鈥巌ntruded their聽鈥巄ase, violating the ceasefire agreement between Muslim rebels and government troops.

Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas have not confirmed who gave the officers the go-signal to penetrate the MILF and BIFF camp.

But so as not to influence the investigation, they ordered the administrative relief of SAF head Police Director Getulio Nape帽as.

Nape帽as will be replaced by deputy SAF director Chief Superintendent Noli Tali帽o.

Mainly, the BOI will look into the lapses committed, create doctrinal, tactical and preparational point of view as reference for future police operations.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to know what the operational lapses are so this won鈥檛 happen again,鈥 Espina said.

The board is composed of Police Director Edgardo Ingking of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, Police Director Benjamin Magalong of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Chief Superintendent 聽Catalino Rodrigo of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.

鈥淲e want to know what really happened. The board of inquiry will entail both internal and external aspects, what are the liabilities of the officers who led this SAF operation,鈥 Espina said.

The BOI will also look into the administrative liability of the officers. This also includes criminal and external liability of the perpetrators.

But Roxas 鈥巃ssured that the PNP still backs the peace process with the Muslim groups.

鈥庘漈uloy ang tiwala at kumpiyansa ng PNP sa peace process. Bagaman napaka lungkot, kabahagi pa rin ang PNP sa pagsulong ng kasalukuyang peace process,鈥 he said.

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