CHR Chief Visits Mamasapano Clash Site, Starts Probe

Cotabato City (PNA) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commenced on Wednesday its independent investigation on the bloody Mamasapano encounter in Maguindanao that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) policemen, 18 Moro rebels and five civilians dead last Jan. 25.

Before proceeding to the clash site in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, CHR Chairpeson Loreta Ann Rosales met with Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and representatives from the United Nations Office on Coordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Rosales said the CHR probe will focus on the possible violation of human rights by all those involved in the incident regardless of their affiliation.

Rosales and representatives from other line agencies in the ARMM are now conducting site inspection and information gathering.

“This is an independent probe; we would like to get to the bottom of the incident, who are the actors, who are the victims of human rights violations, this is our mandate,” Rosales told reporters.

“We are talking to the civilians because we believe they have stories that remained untold to date,” she said in Filipino.

Through a translator, Rosales listened intently on the testimonies of civilians, including those who lost their loved ones, described by many as part of “collateral damage.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the CHR offered a Mass for all the victims of the incident at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral with Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo presiding.

Rosales said her heart bleeds for all the victims, especially those who were brutally killed. (PNA) SCS/NYP/EOF