Mar Roxas admits: “I have sleepless nights… I could have done something to prevent the death of one or two SAFs”

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas recently met with PNP-SAF Troops last February 1, 2014 at the SAF Headquarters in Taguig, Manila.

During the said meeting Roxas assured the SAF troops that justice will be given to the 44 SAF Troops who died during the siege. He also listened to their sentiments after his speech.

In a news from ABS-CBN, a saddened and bothered Roxas mentioned that he was not aware of the Mamasapano raid, saying that he was not informed by SAF chief Police Director Getulio Napenas. He also said that he has been having sleepless nights of what he could have done had he been informed of the plan to raid Mamasapano.

Sa personal ko na puso at kaisipan, interesado ako sa board of inquiry dahil bumabagabag sa akin gabi-gabi, di ako nakakatulog, ang katanungang ‘kung nalaman ko ito, may natanong ba ako, may nagawa ba ako, may na-contribute ba ako? Na kahit isa, dalawa nabawas sa pagkamatay.

Roxas also mentioned that he signed the appointment papers of Napenas.

Ako ‘yung SILG [Secretary of Interior and Local Government] na pumirma sa appointment ni Napenas. So bilib ako sa kanya. Pero hindi natin maiwasan ang katotohanan na hindi niya ako sinabihan [tungkol sa raid].

However, the SAF troops were not able to contain their woes about the incident. One of the Fallen 44’s comrade, Senior Inspector Michael Melloria stated that the country is not worth dying for if the government cannot provide the protection they need.

This country is not worth dying for, sir, kung ‘yung gobyerno natin hindi kami kayang protektahan as a warrior.

Another SAF Trooper also shared her disappointment about the death of their comrades which could have been prevented if reinforcements were sent during the operation.

Sana nagpadala ng reinforcement, nabuhay sana mga classmate namin.

Roxas was also able to visit some of the families of the Fallen 44, stating that the government is grateful for the sacrifice of PNP-SAF troops who were killed during the siege, and assuring that the government will support the families of the slain Mamasapano heroes.

Meanwhile, according to GMA News, the police Board of Inquiry has already started investigating the Mamasapano siege incident. It is headed by  Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) head Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ingking with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Director Benjamin Magalong and Directorate for Research and Development head Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodriguez Jr.