The police findings on the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash may already be available online, but Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has chosen to suspend her judgment on the matter, saying “speculations” cooked up by some sectors only threaten to aggravate the situation.
De Lima told reporters on Friday that she has yet to receive an official copy of the Philippine National Police’s probe results prepared by its Board of Inquiry
“Talaga namang bibigyan kami ng copy, hopefully within the day, matanggap namin para ma-evaluate agad namin,” De Lima said.
“I cannot be commenting on something I havent seen or havent read yet. I cannot rely on media accounts on what purportedly are contained in that report. Hindi maganda iyan kasi lalong magkakaroon ng sari-saring ispekulasyon,” De Lima said.
Separate DOJ investigation underway
The DOJ, through the National Bureau of Investigation and the National Prosecution Service, is in the middle of a separate probe on the incident. The joint task force has committed to come up with findings by Apr. 2.
Apart from the BOI report, De Lima is also expecting to get a copy of the Senate’s own findings on the incident next week.
De Lima said the MILF expects to complete its probe by next week.
“I manifested our desire na sana nga makakuha din kami ng report. Makakatulong din iyan. Any input from them will certainly be helpful,” said De Lima.
More than 60 people died in the clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed 44 elite policemen, 18 members of the MILF, and five civilians. — JDS, GMA News
