Nine years on, justice evades SAF 44 - ex-chief Napeñas

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) — Justice has not been served for the fallen commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), also known as SAF 44, former commander Getulio Napeñas Jr. said on Thursday.

“Not yet, was there a case filed against those people who killed the 44? Until now, not yet,” Napeñas said in Silang, Cavite during the National Remembrance of the Heroic Sacrifice of the SAF 44.

“I would like to see now mafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga pumatay, kasi pinatay nila, murder 'yun, minasaker nila, may buhay pa pinapatay... Do you think justice has been served na hindi nafile-an ng kaso 'yung mga 'yun?” he added.

[Translation: I would like to see now a case be filed against the killers, because they killed, it was murder, they massacred, they killed those still alive... Do you think justice has been served if they still weren't charged?]

The Ombudsman filed charges against Napeñas, former President Noynoy Aquino, and former national police chief Alan Purisima due to command responsibility, but these were later dismissed. 

Meanwhile, the families of the slain troops are still seeking justice and struggling to accept what happened to their loved ones nearly a decade later.

“Sa haba-haba ng panahon, wala pa ring nakukulong. Puro lang sila mga binibigay na pangalan. Pero ang gusto ko, hustisya sa lahat ng SAF 44,” said Richard Cempron, brother of Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron.

[Translation: It's been a long time, but no one has been imprisoned. They just gave names. But what I want is justice for all SAF 44.]

In January 2015, police commandos successfully neutralized Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli Abdhir alias "Marwan" in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

However, 44 SAF troopers were killed in a deadly clash in Barangay Tukanalipao with the combined forces of Moro rebels, breakaway fighters, and private armed groups who consider Mamasapano as their stronghold.

One of the survivors called on the public to also recognize the sacrifices of SAF troops, who escaped death in the Mamasapano clash.

President Bongbong Marcos personally attended the commemoration of the heroism of SAF 44 at the Philippine National Police Academy.

He highlighted the lessons that can be learned from the fallen troops, calling for a "kinder and gentler society" to honor the brave men's devotion to duty.

CNN Philippines' Gerg Cahiles contributed to this story.