Autopsy report: 27 of ‘Fallen 44’ shot in the head

More than half of the 44 Pnhilippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the January 25 clash were shot in the head — according to the autopsy report of the PNP’s Board of Inquiry (BOI).

The autopsy findings 27 of the fallen policemen sustained gunshot wounds to the head, face, neck, and chest, and some of them were allegedly shot at close range.

It’s also believed at least three SAF troopers had their bulletproof vests removed before they were shot in the body.

The PNP’s Board of Inquiry also confirms one of the police commandos — who was seen in a video — only suffered injuries in the lower left thigh but was killed with two fatal shots to the head.

Autopsy findings

A summary of the consolidated medico-legal reports of the Philippine National Police – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) Regional Crime Laboratory Office on the autopsies conducted January 27 and 28 on the remains of the fallen SAF commandos were released Saturday.

According to Police Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin, PNP public information officer (PIO), these reports are being subjected to further analysis.

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Based on the reports, 9 SAF commandos sustained gunshot wounds in the head; 18 sustained gunshot wounds in the head, trunks and extremities; and 17 sustained gunshot wounds in their trunks and extremities.

All of the police commissioned officers suffered fatal gunshot wounds in the head, except for Police Senior Inspector Max Jim Tria, who sustained gunshot wounds in his extremities.

In terms of the manner of death, three of the fatalities sustained gunshot wounds in the middle portion of their trunks, indicating that the victims were not wearing their protective vests, or the vests were removed before they were shot.

Police Inspector Rennie Tyrus, likewise, sustained a gunshot wound in the head with smudging, which indicates that the victim was shot at close range, with the muzzle of the firearm less than 15 centimeters from the point of entry.

PO2 Joseph Sagonoy, whose brutal execution was caught on video, sustained injuries in the lower left thigh and two fatal gunshot wounds in the head. A slug from a 9-millimeter pistol was also recovered from his brain, indicating that he was shot at close range.

Meanwhile, the operational audit team is continuously working on the evaluation of all circumstances and documents gathered in the investigation. Of the 346 SAF troopers involved in the operation, 331 have submitted their affidavits, while the remaining 15 are still in the process of executing their affidavits.

International terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who had a US$5 million bounty, was killed in the bloody operation. Local terrorist Abdul Basit Usman was allegedly wounded but managed to escape.

‘Deliberately killed’

During a Senate hearing on the Mamasapano operation, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina insisted that Moro fighters proceeded in killing the SAF troopers even though they already knew they were government forces.

”Almost all were shot at close range in their heads, with high-powered rifles to see to it that they were dead,” Espina said.

Espina, who was kept in the dark about the January 25 operation, said accounts from the survivors and officials involved in the raid suggested that the MILF fighters deliberately killed the SAF forces.

He said some MILF fighters who first encountered the SAF blocking force knew that the latter were friendly forces, but the Moro fighters still proceeded to shoot them and even went on to look for some more cops.

”After killing all my men, they maneuvered and joined other forces in the area to kill some more of my men. This, after fully realizing that the troops in there were from government,” Espina said.

The MILF is supposed to be observing a ceasefire with the government. The Mamasapano clash has put in peril the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which aims to establish an autonomous entity for the Bangsamoro people.