Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima gives the DOJ special investigation team 40 days or until first week of April to submit their final report and recommendation on Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash.
The special investigation team formed in February 2 is composed of officials and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and five state prosecutors from the National Prosecution Service.
They are assistant state prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera, Irwin Maraya, Gino Paolo Santiago, Jocelyn Dugay and Assistant Prosecution Attorney Ethel Rea Suril.
De Lima said the investigation team will prioritize the testimonies and evidence which will be gathered from the following:
1. Official reports of Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
2. Operational audit report of Board of Inquiry
3. Medical examination reports and records of wounded PNP-SAF commandos and MILF fighters
4. Firearms and ballistics reports
5. Interviews of witnesses.
The prosecutors will file criminal and administrative cases against all those who are liable to the incident based on the evidence they will able to gather.
However, De Lima asked the NBI and NPS to report to her regularly.
On January 25, the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao resulted to the death of 44 PNP-SAF troopers and 18 MILF fighters. (Bianca Dava / UNTV News)