A military ground commander in Mindanao is lamenting how some of those involved in the tragedy that ended the lives of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers are “face-saving” at the expense of the Army.”
Even without mentioning the name of the tactical commander in charge of the mission, it was clear that the source was referring to Police Director Getulio Napenas, former SAF Commander, whom he described as having “failed miserably in the tactical level and is now putting the blame on the AFP for failing to reinforce them.”
Despite repetitively taking responsibility for his actions, Director Napeñas in subsequent interviews, the latest of which was with Inquirer correspondent-at-large Arlyn dela Cruz in Sunday’s issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, claimed that his “men were still alive at noon but no reinforcements came.”
My source says that problems occur “if leaders do not plan properly” and that “shit happens even in operations that are deliberately planned.”
“I cried for my friends from SAF. They should not have died just for Marwan. Sobrang dami ng fatalities. The MILF must show sincerity by turning over Usman and make their erring members accountable for this bloodshed,” he added.
My source says it is adding insult to the Army that Napeñas is now putting the blame on their troops. He said that as the Tactical Commander, Napeñas must accept responsibility without blaming others for his own faults leading to the disaster.
“Also, he could not answer why his reserve force of 300 SAF troops failed to reinforce the 70 SAF troops who entered Tukanalipao as the main effort. Where were they?” my source bewailed.
Here is my source’s timeline of the tragedy:
10p.m. on Jan. 24 — SAF troops entered Mamasapano town without any coordination with the Army.
3a.m. on Jan. 25 — Raided Marwan’s lair. They got him but received fires from Usman’s group. They extricated safely.
5a.m. — Napeñas informed 6id chief by phone to inform him about operations against Marwan. Pangilinan was surprised to know it.
6a.m. — SAF encountered MILF/BIFF. Army troops stationed along the supply route (to) Mamasapano reported the gunfire that they heard. Pangilinan alerted his troops. No requests for reinforcements from SAF.
9a.m. — Gen. Pangilinan received a call from WESTMINCOM chief Lt. Gen Guerrero about the SAF encounter. It was OIC, PNP (Espina) who told him about the encounter. There was no distress call from SAF, asking for help.
During the succeeding coordination, SAF could not give the exact location of the engaged troops and the 300 others who were deployed to support (reinforce). At around noon, the Army received a call from another platoon of SAF who were pinned down and surrounded by MILF forces in a hill. The caller could not give grid coordinates and does not know how to direct artillery fire. The Army made quick estimates and delivered non lethal round, white phosphorus to scare the attackers. True enough, the MILF scampered away.
This SAF platoon led by Supt Raymond Train was rescued by the Division Recon Company later.
The area is marshy and not accessible by any of our military vehicles. The reinforcement was delayed because the troops have to move tactically to avoid ambush along the way. Just imagine, gaano katagal ang movement to ensure the safety of the troops, especially that the SAF did not give them actual grid coordinates.” BEEN THERE DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE JARON-CODILLA
.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)
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