MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police's Board of Inquiry (BOI) has asked to extend its probe on the Mamasapano incident.
PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director Leonardo Espina said that the BOI's panel head, Director Benjamin Magalong, has requested for one more week before wrapping up the body's investigation.
"Ongoing pa [investigation]. Ang dami pang ginagawa, kumukuha pa ng [information] mga hindi natatapos," Espina said.
The BOI panel members recently went to Barangay Tukalanipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, for an ocular inspection. The area is where 44 members of the Special Action Force were killed in a clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Aside from the clash site inspection, the panel members will also interview residents living near the area.
The BOI report on the Mamasapano incident was supposed to be submitted last February 26.
Espina reiterated that the BOI panel is "totally independent" from the PNP hierarchy.
"Very factual lang yung kanila... Be very truthful, very factual. It (findings) will be submitted to us tapos kay Secretary [Mar Roxas]," Espina added.