Aquino presents new findings showing SAF trooper cut off Marwan’s finger

MANILA (PNA) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday presented new findings, including actual photos that debunked the alleged alternative version of the Mamasapano clash on Jan. 25.In his televised address, Aquino showed the photos which show that a Special Action Force (SAF) trooper, and not an aide of Zulkifli bin Hir ‘alias’ Marwan, killed the Malaysian international terrorist.”(But) it is clear from the presentation todayand the SAF were there we can no longer doubt that it was the SAF who took Marwan’s finger. This also meansand All the other accounts about the alternative narrative are baseless, and consequently have no relevance,” the President said.Based on presented actual photos, a SAF trooper who was behind Marwan’s body has cut off a finger of the US’s most wanted terrorist’ left hand.The President said the photos did not come out in the previous investigations, particularly both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, no one else asked if there were other pictures.””In those times, I was the one who askedand Are there no other pictures?,” President Aquino said, prompting him to order the new SAF leadership to look for more actual photos.The President also ordered the cybercrime division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to analyze the SD cards that contained the pictures.”The report, and I quoteand Our forensic examiners concluded that the pictures are authentic and unaltered,” the President said.”We must also rememberand the bounty imposed on Marwan, whether in or outside our country, was enormous. It should not come as a surprise that there are many who hope to obtain the reward, and are trying to muddle the discussions about the matter. Our investigation has allowed us to gain clarity on the matter,” he added.”Now that the conversation about this alternative matter is done,” President Aquino said the process of justice, especially for the fallen SAF 44, can continue.”At present, there are 90 individuals who will face fair and thorough procedures for the murder of the 35 Commandos of the 55th Special Action Company, which is part of the SAF,” he said.The President said former SAF chief General Getulio Napenas was not part of the 90 individuals who will be indicted.”These (90) are the people who were direct participants in the deaths of the 35 of the SAC-55,” the President said.The SAF’s 55th Company encountered the combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups, killing 35 of the 55th’ 36 members.The 55th Company was part of the 392-member SAF team that carried out the Oplan Exodus to neutralize Marwan and his Filipino companion Abdul Basit Usman on January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.The encounter lasted for 11 hours, resulting in the death of 44 SAF troopers, 17 MILF members and five civilians. (PNA)RMA/JFM and//www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=0