The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has cleared two Army commanders who were earlier relieved from their posts in Maguindanao following accusations that they were remiss in their responsibilities for not providing security to the victims of the November 23 massacre.

Cleared by the AFP’s Inspector General were Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton and Col. Medrado Geslani, former commanders of the Army’s 6th ID and 6-1st Brigade, respectively.

The two were relieved following complaints that they refused to provide security to the massacre victims, who were then on their way to file the certificate of candidacy (CoC) of Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu for provincial governor in next year's elections.

The AFP spokesman earlier said the two were relieved not because they are suspected of being directly involved in the massacre, but because of accusations on their alleged misconduct for not responding to the victim’s request for security.

Aside from the alleged misconduct of the two, it was also reported that Geslani was a supporter of the Ampatuan family.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Brawner said based on the complaints, an initial investigation was conducted by the Armed Forces’ Inspector General on the actions of the two officers.

“According to our Inspector General, they found out that both commanders were not remiss in their responsibilities as commanders on the ground, so that is the initial findings although hindi pa, as I said hindi pa ito kumpleto,” Brawner said.

“But that is the initial findings because according to our witnesses, according to the investigation that we did, and the testimonies that we gathered, they were not remiss in the sense that the actions that they did were. . . that they were responsible in that situation given the circumstances,” Brawner further stated.