FULL TEXT: PNP Dep. Dir. General Espina‘s emotional testimony

Below is the full text of PNP Dep. Dir. General Leonardo Espina's emotional testimony during the Feb. 11 House hearing on the Mamasapano clash.  

 
As you all know I'm the officer-in-charge now of the Philippine National Police.

 

There is no doubt that we are all for the peace process. Because first and foremost, we are peacekeepers. We are your peacekeepers.

 

Wala hong ibang gugusto ng katahimikan kundi kami. Alam namin, alam ng AFP ang price to pay for war.

 

Pero sir.. we seek for very clear answers...

 

We seek for clear answers from the other party of the peace process.

 

By the way, ano ba itong overkill na ginawa ninyo sa mga tauhan ko? Ako, hindi ho ako nakatulog kagabi noong nalaman ko 'yung medico legal report.

 

Si Inspector Tayrus, si Inspector Pabalinas did not suffer any lethal shots dahil tinamaan sila sa paa lang. Ganoon din yung PNC 'yung isa.

 

Papaanong namatay yan? 'Yung isa binaril ninyo sa ulo eh buhay na buhay pa 'yung tao.

 

'Yung isa hinubaran ninyo ng bulletproof [vest] niya eh. Binaril niyo sa katawan niya.

 

'Yung isa nine millimeter sa ulo niya, dalawang fatal shots. Hindi pupuwedeng nagsuicide 'yung tao dahil in the face of so many enemies kasi dalawa ['yung tama niya].

 

Nine millimeter, close range 'yun. Short firearm 'yun.

 

Nakita na eh. Ito lang po ang gusto kong itanong. Nakita niyo nang SAF yan eh.

 

Kahit anong violation pa yan, kahit na pong sinabi nating walang coordination, kahit na sabihin pa ho nating sinong unang nagpaputok. 

 

Kausap yan eh sa usapang pangkatahimikan. Peace talks. Bakit ninyo fininish yung mga tao ko?Kwarentay kwatro yan eh. Tatatlo palang yung sinasabi ko. Twenty others were all with headshots.

 

Hindi pa ho kami tapos sa pagtatanong ko sa medico legal namin.

 

You know, your honors, ito pong mga taong ito ay simpleng mga tao lang ito. Kinuha 'yung isang kriminal, legal na operasyon. Tatanunging pa ba natin kung legal pa ba yun?

 

Terorista yan eh, kriminal yan eh. Nagpapasabog yan ang dami ng pinatay niyan. Tapos you will blame coordination to justify the killing of my people after fully knowing them that they are from SAF, they are from government?

 

Mind you we're all for peace. 

 

Walang ibang magsasalita dito para sa mga tao kundi ako. Wala pong ibang inaasahan itong namatay na itong kwarentay kwatro kundi po tayong lahat.

 

Bigyan naman natin ng hustisya at magpakatotoo sana tayo rito. Hindi po pupuwedeng lagi ganito.

 

I seek answers for my people so that when I die and when my time comes that I have to face them at least I can say something.

 

It is always sweet to die for this country. Itong mga taong ito will always be there in your front and say mission accomplished po.

 

Sana nga sinasabi ko kasama na ako doon. Personal so that I can lie down before you and tell you, salute, mission accomplished.

 

Pero po inuulit po namin kami sa Philippine National Police we are all for peace.

 

Sagutin niyo lang po ako so that when we face each other all in heaven I can tell them what happened.

 

My men I tell you buhay na buhay yan. Hindi niyo man lang pinauwi kasama ng kanyang mga anak.

Dapat fair play lang ho lahat. That's what I want, that's what I request. Fairness and justice for my men.

 

Maraming salamat po.