SAF 44 killers to be charged next month – De Lima

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will soon file charges against the suspected killers of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

“We are filing the cases in a month’s time,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told the House appropriations committee chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.

The DOJ chief first promised to file charges against the killers of the SAF 44 in April.

Responding to questions raised by Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz of party-list Abakada, De Lima said cases would be filed against 90 respondents identified in the first part of the report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

She said the respondents are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), its breakaway faction Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and armed groups in Maguindanao.

She did not identify those who would be charged.

The MILF is in the process of negotiating peace with the government. The talks have led to a peace agreement and the drafting of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which is now pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Mamasapano carnage has delayed consideration of the draft BBL, which seeks to create a new autonomous Bangsamoro area that would replace the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

De Lima said part 1 of the NBI report focused on the killing of 35 commandos belonging to SAF 55th Special Action Company, which served as the blocking force of SAF 84th Seaborne Company, the team that assaulted the hideout of suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

The assault team killed Marwan, but lost eight men in ensuing clashes with BIFF guerrillas. Another commando died later in hospital.

Muslim fighters mostly belonging to the MILF nearly wiped out the blocking force. Only one member survived.

The PNP Board of Inquiry and the Senate committee on public order had concluded that the 44 SAF troopers were “massacred” by the MILF, BIFF and Muslim armed groups.

The Senate committee said the commandos were also “robbed” of their firearms, equipment, gadgets, and other personal belongings.

The MILF claims its men killed the policemen in self-defense.

De Lima said part 2 of the NBI report would deal with the death of nine members of the assault team, the involvement of six Americans in the SAF operation and allegations by the MILF that the lone survivor of 55SAC, PO2 Christopher Lalan, killed four unarmed Muslim civilians.

“Regarding the Americans, we will determine if they violated our laws,” she said.

According to retired SAF chief Getulio Napeñas, the men Lalan encountered in his escape were armed.

More benefits

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said the surviving kin of the SAF 44 have received P69,566,524.88 in lump sum benefits, P1,016,995.70 pension benefits and P35,367,333 donations from the Senate, Congress, local government units, government agencies and private donors as of July 24.

Appearing before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs yesterday, Director Dominador Aquino, chief of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management, said P24,367,333 were deposited to the bank account set up by the PNP for the SAF victims.  He said the contribution of police personnel totaled P2.46 million; other government agencies, P5.1 million; and private donors, P 16.786 million. 

At least P15 million were given to SAF beneficiaries and P8 million retained with the SAF Tagaligtas Foundation.

The families initially received P250,000 each in lump sum benefits from the President’s Social Fund.

The PNP also handed out special financial assistance equivalent to six months’ salary and allowances and bonuses depending on the ranks. The highest is 311,849 and lowest, 132,566, an average of 174,600 per family. The total amount dispensed with was pegged at P7,682,433. 

On the commutation of approved leaves, the highest received was P440,844.62 and the lowest, 72,458.53, an average of 218,294 per family, or a total of  P9,623,932.27.

For pensions from Jan. 25 to March 31, the highest was P45,016.32 and lowest, P20,430.03, an average of P26,064.74 per family. The total amount given was P4,146,762.62 

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) also gave out burial and gratuity benefits equivalent to three months basic salary depending on ranks. The family of the highest-ranked police commando was given P111,939 while  the lowest got P50,802 or an average of P65,759.80.

Each officer’s beneficiary also got pension benefits, equivalent to 50 percent of his salary plus longevity pay of as much as P526,801.53 per month. The pension is computed at 80 percent of one’s salary multiplied by 60 months or equivalent to P490,193 per month.

The total pension benefits amounted to 1,016,095.70 per month. 

The 46 children of the SAF 44 were also provided educational assistance. Those in kindergarten were given P10,000 per school year; elementary, P18,000; high school, P24,000; and those enrolled in vocational schools, P18,000.  Those enrolled in college got P30,000. 

“The Napolcom also amended its scholarship policies, vocational includes short term courses, rules so that it can be liberally interpreted, and so that the educational assistance are extended to illegitimate children,” Aquino said.

Sen. Grace Poe said she was “glad to hear” that the PNP has been lenient in providing assistance to the illegitimate children. –With Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe