Fallen 44
Fallen 44
Fallen 44
While passions are still smouldering, it will not be easy to sort out the
various issues that led to and resulted from the slaughter of 44 Philippine
National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandoes in
Maguindanao.1
The Fallen 44 gave rise to a nation who has never been this inquisitive
before since the inception of the Noynoy Aquino administration.
A month after the January 25 incident, a number of investigations
been opened, deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law have been
suspended, and the public has had differing opinions about whether the
government should continue its peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front.2
President Aquino, meanwhile, took full responsibility for the deaths of the
44 elite SAF. In his second nationally televised address after the tragic
encounter, Aquino said that as Commander-in-chief, he carries the weight of
both the success and tragedy of the anti-terrorist operation.3
Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina Jr. commented that the Presidents view is in
line with the doctrine of qualified political agency which recognizes the
establishment of a single executive and states that all executive and
administrative organizations are adjuncts of the Executive Department, the
heads of the various executive departments are assistants and agents of the
Chief Executive the multifarious executive and administrative functions of
the Chief Executive are performed by and through the executive
1 Greg B. Macabenta, Adlib: The Charge of the Fallen 44. www.bworldonline.com.
February 10, 2015. Accessed February 20, 2015. Available from
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=the-charge-of-thefallen-44&id=102500
2 Amita Legaspi, et.al. Infographic: A month after Mamasapano clash, More
questions than answers. www.gmanetwork.com. February 25, 2015. Accessed
February 28, 2015. Available from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/441914/news/specialreports/infographic-amonth-after-mamasapano-clash-more-questions-than-answers
3 Camille Diola. Aquino accepts responsibility for 44 Fallen SAF men.
www.philstar.com. February 6, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2015. Available from
http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2015/02/06/1420896/aquino-acceptsresponsibility-44-fallen-saf-men
Senator Francis Escudero, albeit noting that resigned police chief should
not have been involved, believes that PNoy may not be held responsible for
the clash.7 The Senator said in a briefing that nothing in the Revised Penal
Code says that one would be liable if you speak to or ask questions of the
wrong person.8
Senator Grace Poe echoed Escuderos observation that resigned police chief
Alan Purisima gave Aquino inaccurate information. Purisima told Aquino
that the SAF troopers had artillery and mechanized support from the
military during the morning of the encounter on January 25.9 Meanwhile,
opposition Senator JV Ejercito believes that the PNP and AFP, and the
Cabinet security cluster are trying to cover up for Aquino, pointing out the
inconsistent answer of Purisima as regards when the president knew of the
encounter.10 On the other hand, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it
remains unclear whether Aquino should be cleared of liability because it is
still uncertain what exactly were the reports given to him, and who gave
these reports.11
Assuming, if it is really not the President, who and what are to blame for
the deaths of the 44 elite troopers?
Purisima and Alleged Usurpation
The covert operation to take down international terrorist Zulkifli bin
Hir, alias Marwan, by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force
(PNP-SAF) was kept a secret among sacked SAF commander Getulio
Napeas Jr., President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Director
General Alan Purisima.12
Napeas Jr. admitted during the Senate probe of the incident that it was
Purisima who gave him the go-signal to push through with the Mamasapano
6 Amita Legaspi. Miriam: PNoy may be held liable for deaths of fallen 44 of SAF
men. www.gmanetwork.com. Accessed February 28, 2015. Available from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/423206/news/nation/miriam-pnoy-may-beheld-liable-for-deaths-of-fallen-44-saf-men
7 Ryan Chua. PNoy not liable for Mamasapano clash. www.abs-cbnnews.com.
February 26, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2015. Available from http://www.abscbnnews.com/nation/02/26/15/chiz-pnoy-not-liable-mamasapano-bloodbath
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.