“Whoever uploaded that video is a heartless fellow. If you still have humanity left in your soul, we ask you to take it out,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda reiterated that the Palace is determined to find out who was behind the attack against the SAF members, citing the ongoing probe of the PNP board of inquiry.
“You have a right to be angry. You have a right to be outraged by such brutal display of violence. But at the end of the day, we need to seek the truth. We need to find justice for all those who died including the SAF hero who was in that video. That’s what we intend to do,” he said.
Forty-four SAF troopers died in the bloody mission to arrest 2 high-value terrorists, Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, and Basit Usman. Marwan was killed but Usman escaped. Eighteen MILF fighters and 5 civilians were also killed.
MILF URGED TO ARREST EXECUTIONERS
Meantime, the Akbayan party called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to explain "this act of violence," and to arrest those responsible for the atrocity.
"We demand the MILF to ascertain if the perpetrator/s is from their own ranks or from other armed groups, arrest the person/s responsible and surrender them to the government so that justice may be served. The fact that this crime happened within their territory necessitate that they take definite action toward truth, justice and accountability.
"The MILF cannot sweep this under the rug and wiggle itself out of this issue by again saying that this happened under the 'heat of the battle.' Clearly, the basic human right of a defenseless combatant was violated. Without a doubt, murder was committed. For the MILF to fail to respond adequately on this matter is to fail its claimed 'long-held desire' for peace and justice for the Bangsamoro," Akbayan said.
The party-list group said that under International Humanitarian Law, "it is strictly prohibited to inflict injury to combatants who are no longer capable of fighting."
"This is also provided for by the Geneva Convention, Hague Convention and International Customary Law. Moreover, the act of killing an already unarmed and defenseless combatant is defined as murder under the Revised Penal Code," the party said.
Akbayan also called on the public "to be sensitive and respectful of the anguish of the family of the victim by not spreading the video.
VIDEO IS GENUINE
On Wednesday, the commanding officer of the 5th Special Action Force Battalion confirmed that a video showing the brutal killing of a SAF trooper in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 is authentic.
Police Supt. Reynald Ariño said he saw the video, which went viral on Facebook Tuesday.
He said the man killed in the video is a member of the 55th Special Action Company.
Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina earlier said he could not sleep Tuesday after learning that some of the SAF troopers were executed by Moro rebels.
Espina criticized the MILF for the overkill of his men, saying the rebels knew that they were shooting SAF troopers.
"Ang PNP, we are all for peace. Sagutin nyo lang po ako. My men, buhay na buhay, 'di man lang pinauwi sa mga anak," he said.
"I want answers. When time comes I have to face them, at least I can say something. Sana nga, kasama na lang ako doon. I want answers so than when we see each other in the afterlife, I can tell them what happened."
For his part, SAF commander Getulio Napenas said he decided not to watch the video after being told that it was too brutal.
Source:
hwww.abs-cbnnews.com
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