No justice yet for SAF 44, says ex-leader Napeñas

SILANG, Cavite — For former Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr., justice has yet to be served for the 44 SAF members who perished in the infamous 2015 Mamasapano clash.

Napeñas made the remark Thursday as he attended the National Remembrance of the Heroic Sacrifice of the SAF 44 held at the Philippine National Police Academy here. 

In an interview with reporters, Napeñas pointed out that complaints are not yet filed against those who killed the 44 SAF members who were at the time conducting an operation to arrest an international terrorist in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. 

"Not yet. Was there a case filed against those people who killed the 44? Until now, not yet," Napeñas said when asked if he thinks justice has already been served for the 44 SAF members. 

"I would like to see now mafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga pumatay, kasi pinatay nila, murder 'yun, minasaker nila, may buhay pa pinapatay... Do you think justice has been served na hindi nafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga 'yun?" he added. 

(I would like to see that cases would be filed against those who killed them, because that's murder, that's massacre. Do you think justice has been served when cases are not filed?)

"Is it enough na nagkaroon ng peace process noon? You'll be the judge," Napeñas said. 

Among those who engaged the SAF 44 in a firefight were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a secessionist group that has since signed a peace agreement with the government.

To recall, the Sandiganbayan has acquitted Napeñas and former PNP chief Alan Purisima of graft and usurpation charges for their involvement in the planning of the January 2015 anti-terrorist operation that led to the deaths of the 44 SAF commandos. 

Oplan Exodus was the operation aimed at neutralizing terrorists Zulkilfi bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman. 

The elite commandos were killed when engaged by a combined force of fighters from the MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed elements in the area.

Marwan was killed in the operation, while Usman was killed by authorities later that year, in May.

Meanwhile, Napeñas also lamented that his pension benefits was not yet restored, and expressed hope that the Marcos administration would give justice to what happened following the deadly battle.

"And until now ako nga di pa nire-restore 'yung aking pension benefits (And until now, my pension benefits were not yet restored), I was also receiving my pension for almost a year then suddenly they came up with an order [to stop it]," he said.

Asked about the benefits being given to the families of the killed SAF commandos, Napeñas ensured that they have received the assistance from the government as well as from donations. 

"Yes, they received all the benefits more than what the government provides. May mga donations pa silang natanggap (they also received donatons)," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News