PNoy: I want the whole truth on Mamasapano

MANILA - President Aquino on Monday said he wants to know the truth behind new allegations on the Mamasapano operation but will remain silent on the details of what he has previously said as the "alternative truth" to the incident.

The President said he is awaiting the results of the investigation being done by various government agencies.

"Hindi ko puwedeng pasukan lahat ng detalye. May ongoing investigation at saka may ongoing operations. Ang dulo ng lahat nito, gusto nating malaman 'yung the whole truth and nothing but the truth," he said.

"Yung official ba na kinuwento ng [Special Action Force] ang talagang lahat na nangyari, kumpleto? Itong 'alternative' ba ang mas kumpleto or may idadagdag doon sa tinatawag na 'narrative?' Puwede bang parehong mali at merong pangatlong version? Hindi rin kami nagsasara ng kaisipan na baka itong alternative ay pampagulo lang sa usapan. So ang dulo niyan, paano natin malalaman ang katotohanan, kailangan natin ng testimonya at saka ebidensiya, at 'yon ang nililikom," he added.

The President, however, clarified that they have yet to conclude on whose version is more accurate, that of the Philippine National Police-SAF or that of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"Hindi kami nagsasabi nitong alternative version ay sigurado na kaming itong totoo. Hindi rin namin sinasabi na... 'Yung… We are not discounting the possibility na baka totally false 'yung alternative version or baka 'pag… Hindi ba, kapag magsisinungaling raw isang tao, kailangan adhere to the truth as much as possible," he said.

"Maraming inatasan ang ahensiya para magtulong-tulong para mahanap 'yung ebidensiya at saka 'yung testimonya, at hindi--wala pa sa tangan--hindi pa natin tangan ngayon, for instance, 'yung mga testigong diretsuhang may kaalaman sa nangyari or allegedly may direct knowledge of what transpired," he added.

The issue on who really killed Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, the subject of the Mamasapano raid of the Special Action Force (SAF) last January 25, became the subject of news after the President said government investigators are looking at an ''alternative version'' of the events that took place on that fateful day.

During a roundtable discussion with Philippine Daily Inquirer journalists and editors, President Aquino particularly cited a photo of a dead Marwan which appeared on the major daily. He said this photo raised several questions.

In a recent report, Inquirer also quoted a source from the Armed Forces of the Philippines as saying that it was Marwan's aides, not SAF troopers, who were responsible for killing the wanted terrorist who had a $5 million bounty on his head.