Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

DOJ forms joint task force to probe Mamasapano clash

Posted on February 3, 2015

By Lilybeth G. Ison

MANILA, Feb. 3 (PNA) — As per directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a joint task force for the conduct of parallel investigation on the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash that left 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) dead.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima, in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, said their investigation will be focused on a “case buildup” for the possible filing of charges.

“Ang kino-confirm (ko) up to today is indeed the instruction of the President to the DOJ to undertake case buildup and prepare the appropriate or necessary criminal charges against those maybe identified or determined to be responsible doon sa nangyari,” she said.

As such, De Lima said she has ordered the creation of a joint task force composed of members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the National Prosecution Service that will build up the case.

“We will be closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police, with the Board of Inquiry, and of course, we will not be precluded also from gathering evidence so as to help in the case buildup,” she said.

When asked why prosecutors were being tapped in the parallel probe, the DOJ chief said: “Ang kanilang pinaka-trabaho is to evaluate and assess yung mga nakakalap na ebidensya kung sufficient na ba for purposes of filing charges, what charges can be filed, and against whom they are filed, to be filed.”

She said the case buildup was still in its early stages and that she has yet to finalize the composition of the joint task force.

A total of 44 PNP-SAF personnel were killed while 12 others were wounded during the 11-hour firefight on Jan. 25 with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The MILF said 17 of its fighters were killed in the clash.

The PNP-SAF members supposedly entered an MILF-controlled area in Mamasapano to arrest Filipino bombmaker Abdulbasit Usman and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. Government officials earlier said Marwan was most likely killed in the operation, although this has yet to be supported by solid evidence.

Aside from the DOJ, both Houses of Congress will also conduct their own investigations into the clash.

Parallel investigations will also be conducted by the PNP and the MILF. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme