PNP: No US hand in Mamasapano operation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday denied that American troops were directly involved in the operation to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the mission was solely an operation by the Special Action Force (SAF).

"Talagang solely SAF lang nag operate dito sa Mamasapano. Walang ... direct involvement ng US except for medical and rescue," Cerbo told a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Cerbo, however, clarified that the US government has been helping the Philippines in terms of training and equipment and information sharing.

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"Hindi lang US but other countries as well. Nagre-receive support PNP in terms of equipment, capability enhancement, training saka info[rmation] sharing, mayroon tayong ganyang arrangement with ASEAN countries, mga kapitbahay natin. Bilateral, trilateral. Itong mga suportang ito 'di tinatago," Cerbo added.

He said the public will have to wait for the report of the PNP's Board of Inquiry (BOI) tasked to probe into all aspects of the Mamasapano operation, which resulted in the deaths of 67 persons, including 44 SAF commandos.

Cerbo said there are also ongoing investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding the incident which would allay fears of a whitewash or cover-up.

"Tignan natin BOI at yung investigation ng Senate and House. Di ko sinasabi na si (Getulio) Napenas ay tama sa revelations nya, pero kaya nga merong inquiries, fact-finding bodies," he said.

Chief Superintendent Getulio Napeñas is the relieved head of the SAF force who coordinated the Mamasapano operation.

The BOI, headed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Benjamin Magalong, is expected to wrap up its probe on the incident within a month.