MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday assured the House Committee on Appropriations that her office will file cases against those involved in the deadly encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
De Lima said 90 respondents tagged in the killing of Special Action Force members may face criminal charges as the National Bureau of Investigation ends its investigation into the botched anti-terror operation within a month.
A police operation met a fatal end when 44 police commandos were killed by suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed guerillas on January 25.
De Lima noted that there are 37 troopers of the 55th Company killed in Barangay Tucanalipao, Mamasapano, while the other seven killed in Barangay Sundalan were members of the 84th Company.