Duterte doubts SAF 44 probes can resolve questions

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has expressed doubt that various investigations on the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos during an encounter with Muslim rebels in Maguindanao last year will ever resolve “all unanswered and unasked questions.”

“Para sa akin kasi (for me) it is a done thing. Is there another truth? Aside from the results of the many investigations from (resigned justice secretary Leila) De Lima of the DOJ, to the (Commission on) Human Rights, Congress and of course yung kay (Sen. Grace) Poe,” Duterte told reporters after a forum at the De La Salle University in Manila on Wednesday.

Duterte said all the investigations are not enough to answer questions about the Mamasapano encounter between SAF members and Muslim rebels on Jan. 25, 2015.

Duterte said he is aware of confidential information about the incident as he was present in a command conference in Zamboanga City with the President and then interior secretary Manuel Roxas II when the incident happened.

“I would like to tell you that on the day the President was in Zamboanga, I was invited dun sa Andrews. There was a command conference. Roxas was there that late afternoon and evening when the President went to visit because there was a bombing the previous day,” he said.

“Meron akong narining doon (I heard something there) but you know, unfortunately I was invited to that conference in confidence because it was a security matter,” Duterte added.