Malacañang Declares Jan. 30 as National Day of Mourning for Slain SAF Members

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared Jan. 30, 2015 as National Day of Mourning for the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) members in Maguindanao.

In a briefing at Malacañang Wednesday evening, the President said he, like the rest of the Filipino people, wants to know what really happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Sunday.

He, however, said that he is leaving it up to the Board of Inquiry, which has been formed to assess and submit a report on the incident.

At least 44 elite members of the SAF were killed in a violent firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The SAF members were assigned to capture Malaysian Zulkipli bin Hir, a.k.a. Marwan, and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman, reportedly bomb experts who are linked with the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah and who are being hunted by the United States.

The incident has been dubbed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as a “misencounter” since there is an existing ceasefire in the area. (PNA) SCS/JS/RSM