Another source of SAF execution video identified

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still tracing the source of the video showing one of the wounded police commandos being finished off by Muslim rebels during the encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

A source from the Department of Justice (DOJ) said they have identified two persons who first uploaded the video that went viral over social networking sites.

The supposed source of the video was elusive and claimed that somebody just placed it on an external drive.

The DOJ source declined to identify the person, saying it might jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

The video was passed on to several persons “to make it difficult” for investigators to determine the original source, the source said.

It is common for those who want to make a video viral to distribute it to evade any criminal liability, the source said.

The video was passed on until a trader from Davao uploaded it on Facebook.

The first uploader shared it with only seven friends, but one of them downloaded the video and uploaded it again to make it appear that he was the original source.

“He did that to gain popularity. Sikat yong issue e,” the source said.

The NBI said the first two uploaders, who were neighbors in Davao, were invited for questioning.

The second uploader turned over his cellular phone that he used to upload the video on Facebook. 

Agents of NBI cyber crime division concluded their probe on the issue last week.