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Oplan Wolverine (Hunt for Marwan); Mamasapano Operation by PNP-SAF (Jan 2015)
Topic Started: Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:48 pm (12,119 Views)
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PNP SAF trooper: "Bakit ang tagal ng reinforcement?"

"Why is the reinforcement taking so long to arrive?"

February 16, 2015 10:05pm

Tags: Mamasapano clash

"May nagsasabi na wala na si Cordero (PO2 Roger Cordero), patay na. Mamaya, may nagsasabi na naman na wala na si Tayrus (P/Insp. Rennie Tayrus), patay na. Nagsisigaw na ng 'Sir, reinforcement, Sir? Wala ba tayong [casualty] evac, Sir? Saan na yung reinforcement natin, Sir?' Sigaw ng mga wounded na kasama ko," a member of the 84th Seaborne or the assault team of the Oplan Exodus, told GMA News, on condition of anonymity.

"Ako rin, sumisigaw din ako. Bakit ang tagal ng reinforcement? Bakit walang tutulong sa atin," the SAF trooper said in a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" report on Monday..

The SAF commandos never thought of surrendering, he said. Forty-four of the SAF troopers involved in the Mamasapano assault died.

"Binantayan namin yung mga patay namin, kaming mga wounded, binatayan kami ng mga hindi sugatan, walang aatras, walang magsu-surrender. Mamatay na tayong lahat dito," the SAF trooper said.

Only one, out of the 36 members of the 55th Special Action Company, was able to survive, while nine were killed out of the 38 members of the 84th Seaborne.

The SAF trooper told GMA News what happened on Jan. 25, starting from the time the group reached the hut of Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan before 4 a.m.

He said about 10 meters away from Marwan's hut, they saw that Marwan was awake and lit a light.

"Bago kami makarating dun mga 10 meters nagising siya, nag-ilaw siya dun, umiilaw siya sa amin, mga one minute siguro pinatay niya ilaw so nagkaroon na ako ng chance para lapitan ko," he said.

He said the plan was the operation will not last longer than an hour to arrest Marwan but it did not happen as booby traps exploded.

"Malapit lang, parang sa taas ko lang sumabog eh. Naramdaman ko na namanhid na yung likod ko doon pero nakaputok pa rin ako, isang magazine inubos ko... may sumabog ulit, bumasak na ako doon, lupaypay na dalawang kamay ko," he said

Even before sunrise, enemies have started firing at them.

"Yung security nila pumuputok din, tapos dun sa bandang bahay ni [Basit] Usman pumuputok din, wala na low morale na ako nun kasi hindi ko maangat yung baril ko, hindi ko na mai-shoot yung magazine sa chamber, mga dala kong explosive binigay ko sa mga kasama ko. Hanggang sa nag-command yung ground commander namin ng 'Assualt!" na pasukin na yung bahay," he said.

He said five commandos went inside Marwan's hut.

"Pagkasabi ng "Bingo!" ibig sabihin kuha na yung target, high morale ako doon. Pinilit ko nang tanggalin yung Kevlar [helmet] ko, yung vest ko, kasi hindi ko na maangat yung katawan ko," he said.

He said he was assisted by the PO2 Nicky DC Nacino Jr. to stand up.

"Si PO2 Nacino yung namatay, inalalayan ako na tumayo para withdraw na kami sa ilog," he said. "Ang laki pala ng sugat ko sa likod. Kasi hindi ko naramdaman parang manhid yung buong likod ko."

He said enemies followed them.

"Unti-unti kaming mag-move. Maraming sumusunod sa amin na kalaban nagsisigawan sila puro 'Allahu Akbar' ang sinisigaw parang nagmamass-up na sila narinig na namin yung putukan, yung burst ng putok dun sa kabilang side. 55th na pala yung binabanatan," he said.

He said they saw civilians flee their houses.

He said at noon, enemies still continued firing at them.

They felt that it would already be the end of their life.

He said according to the plan, the 84th Seaborne or the main effort team was supposed to be with the blocking force or the 55th Special Action Company, but this did not happen.

He said the SAF troopers felt hopeful every time they heard the 55th SAC were still fighting with the enemies.

"Everytime na lalakas yung putukan, tsina-challenge namin yung 55th kung sumasagot pa sila sa challenge namin, meron kaming challenge para sumagot sila, sa putok kami nag-uusap, nung sumasagot pa yung 55th, medyo high morale pa rin ako," he said.

"Ang naiisip ko makakalabas pa rin kami at umaasa sa reinforcement, pag abante namin, binakbakan pa rin kami, minortar kami. Matagal kami sa area na yun hanggang sa hindi na sumasagot yung 55th sa amin," he said.

At 3 p.m., he said some of the enemies went near them and laughed at them.

"May nakalapit na lang noong alas-tres na ng hapon (January 25) kasi in-assault nila kami. Parang ipi-finish na nila kami akala nila siguro patay na kami lahat doon. Sabay-sabay silang lumapit sa amin... Ang lakas ng sigaw nila. Tumatawa pa," he said.

He said he already thought that he won't be able to survive.

"Sari-sari na yung iniisip ko. Mabuhay pa ba ako dito o hindi, para na akong patay. Wala man lang ako magawa," he said. — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza/ELR, GMA News


VIDEO: SAF survivor narrates his own account of the Mamasapano raid



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HvfghjJ6t0

Nakaligtas na SAF trooper, ikinuwento ang pagsugod nila sa bahay ni Marwan
Date posted: Feb 16, 2015 8:07pm
Reporter: Cedric Castillo

Tags: Mamasapano clash

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/262466/24oras/nakaligtas-na-saf-trooper-ikinuwento-ang-pagsugod-nila-sa-bahay-ni-marwan
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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SAF guys who survived the Mamasapano encounter narrated their experience

Video 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DQDsFCfaho

Nakaligtas na SAF Commando, ikinuwento ang paraan ng pag-atake ng mga kalaban
Date posted: Feb 17, 2015 7:59pm
Reporter: Cedric Castillo
Tags: Mamasapano clash
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/263335/24oras/nakaligtas-na-saf-commando-ikinuwento-ang-paraan-ng-pag-atake-ng-mga-kalaban


Video 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfpxkKZezSY

PNP-SAF, nakipagsabayan sa mga umatake sa kanila nang mapasok ang kubo ni Marwan
Date posted: Feb 17, 2015 8:08pm
Reporter: Mariz Umali
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/263405/24oras/pnp-saf-nakipagsabayan-sa-mga-umatake-sa-kanila-nang-mapasok-ang-kubo-ni-marwan
Edited by Flipzi, Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:39 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:51 am
WHO'S TO BLAME?

Since, it is the BIFF who have been coddling Marwan and Usman, the BIFF is liable for not just the deaths of the SAF 44 but also deaths of many civilians who got killed by several car bombs, IED attacks on buses and commercial establishments. Therefore, the families of these civilians and the SAF44 can only get the justice they deserved by hitting hard on BIFF now.

The MILF on other hand was liable too since it allowed the 2 bombers to stay at BIFF's zone. It is possible that MILF and BIFF agreed to letting the 2 stay at BIFF zone to enable MILF to 'technically' say that they were not coddling the 2. In reality, the 2 HVTs can easily move in and out of the 2 zones. Perhaps, the MILF guys simply moved into BIFF zone when there's a technical training on bomb-making conducted by the two. The MILF is also liable for not telling the AFP or the media that the two were staying in that area.

Moreover, the GRP-MILF ceasefire committee failed if not deliberately bungled the negotiation to save the SAF men. They could have stopped their men earlier but the MILF who confronted the SAF, under 105th Base Commands deliberately used the opportunity to massacre the SAF being outgunned and outnumbered for a long period and under unfavorable location on the part of the SAF. They only stopped when all the SAF troopers were already dead.

Reviewing the timeline, at 5:37AM, SAF chief advised BGen. Manolito Orense, head of GPH-AHJAG, about the operation. MILF's AHJAG head, Atty. Abdul Dataya was called at 6:48AM but phone just kept on ringing. At 7:27, 6ID asked if the communication succeeded but GRP side said they couldn't make the connection.

At 7:30, GPH-CCCH called up Mr. William Hovland of the International Monitoring Committee to help out. The IMT started forming joint team or JCCT.

At 7:31AM, MILF-AHJAG finally called back at GPH.

At 8:20AM, military vehicles and troops deployed to area.

At 9:00AM, joint ceasefire team was assembled at Cotabato City. At 9:30AM GRP and MILF AHJAG was invited by 6ID to join the battle staff.

At 10:54AM ceasefire committee led by Butcher Malang proceeded to area to effect ceasefire. At 11:45AM team held a meeting with 105th's Ustadz Goma and 118th's Wahid Tundok, Mayor Ampatuan and other personalities.

Ceasefire team having a hard time stopping the fight. At 4PM the fighting stopped. Sporadic fighting ensued in other areas until the next morning.

Remember that the 55th SAF was engaged at 5AM and the sustained engagement exhausted their ammos already. The fighting simply stopped because all the 55th SAF were already dead.

The MILF's 105th failed to stop the fighting even if its commander gave the order, it is impossible to say it's hard to communicate because as per records, it is usual that their men on the ground have tactical radios. So, it is possible that the 105th deliberately took the opportunity to massacre the SAF knowing they have the advantage.

The MILF-AHJAG is also to blame since the assault on Marwan started at 4:00AM. This incident and fighting at 5AM would have alerted the MILF, including AHJAG.

But the MILF-AHJAG might have deliberately rejected calls to let the MILF takes in revenge on the SAF who killed Marwan.

In all, it seems like there was a deliberate attempt to kill the SAF in retaliation for Marwan's death or to simply pain the SAF and the gov't.

On the other hand, the gov't is also to blame since it relied on a long and complicated process of joint ceasefire team instead of allowing the AFP/PNP protect their men. The AHJAG was informed at 5:37AM and but MILF was able to stop its men at 4PM, which is 10 hours later. The 55th SAF was engaged at 5:00AM, 10 hours or even 5 hours would render them too vulnerable already due to ammo exhaustion. So, why choose the long process of the ceasefire when you can use the AFP/PNP's full might to secure the exit and while using the joint ceasefire team to stop the MILF from moving in further?

What should have been done is to allow the AFP/PNP use their full might, which includes the air support, to create a barrier between the gov't troops and the MILF and allow the SAF to maneuver and complete the exit plan or to allow the AFP/PNP to extricate.

Unfortunately, the gov't made the wrong decision of relying solely on the efforts of the joint ceasefire team, which obviously failed. It saved none, since the other SAF team was saved by 3 artillery fires that sent the MILF scampering away.

SAF Commander also is partly to blame for disregarding the importance of the role of PNP Chief or OIC, who was Gen. Leonardo Espina. Also, Gen. Purisima was suspended. Therefore, SAF commander must respect the powers of Espina since if anything goes wrong it will be Espina and Roxas who will be saving him and his men and not Purisima. They also failed to tell the President and DILG since the battleground is complicated due to proximity to MILF bases, which could ignite a bigger battle between SAF and the MILF when the two groups cross path. This is not a normal operation because the terrain is complicated by the presence of a bigger force, and whom the PH govt is trying to forge a peace deal with. In short, the SAF failed to coordinate it well.
Napeñas blames AFP, ceasefire panel for high death toll

By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 20, 2015 - 1:00am

MANILA, Philippines - For relieved Philippine National Police (PNP)-Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas, a confluence of factors including absence of artillery support and tactical failures can explain the large number of SAF casualties in the Mamasapano clash last Jan. 25 with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other armed groups.

In a sworn statement taken by a PNP investigator, Napeñas also said procedures followed by ceasefire teams and peace monitors may have delayed or stopped the deployment of reinforcement for the embattled SAF commandos.

Forty-four SAF men were killed in a daylong clash with gunmen belonging to the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), originally believed to be a rogue faction of the MILF.

“The main reason was that follow-on units of SAF to support 55SAC (Special Action Company) and 84 SAC failed to occupy their position,” he said.

He said help from units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Maguindanao also came late.

“If the (AFP) artillery support was provided in the morning, the 55SAC would have been eased a little and the same could have helped ease the volume of fire from the enemy forces and the high number of SAF casualties would have been avoided,” he said.

“I came up with this assessment because the WP (white phosphorous or blank artillery rounds) landed near the position of 84SAC at about 5:30 p.m. (of Jan. 25). Minutes later, gunfire stopped, then the attackers withdrew,” he said.

84SAC was the assault team led by Supt. Raymond Train. It lost nine of its 38 members. The armed men it encountered were mostly from the BIFF, a breakaway group of the MILF.

55SAC, composed of 36 men, was to serve as the assault team’s blocking force, but clashed with MILF elements. All but one died. The lone survivor is Police Officer 2 Christopher Lalan.

A total of 392 men were mobilized for the Mamasapano operation. More than 300 were to support the two operating teams, but it is not clear up to now why they failed to help the embattled 55SAC and 84SAC.


Ceasefire troubles

Napeñas also said the government-MILF coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH), led by Brig. Gen. Carlito Galvez for the government and Rasid Ladiasan for the MILF, and the international monitoring team (IMT) observing the ceasefire may have contributed to the high casualty figure.

“To me, the effort of the CCCH and the IMT sometimes is not being honored by armed groups on the ground, plus the fact that some attackers are BIFF members who are not included in the peace process,” he said.

“In this case, the effort of the CCCH and IMT may have delayed the reinforcement, as the reinforcing troops were advised to hold ground to give way to the negotiation team. Despite the presence of the CCCH and IMT, the attackers continued to attack the 84SAC and 55SAC,” he said.

He said during the planning for various operations against Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir – alias Marwan – and his Filipino deputy Abdul Basit Usman, they received “no guidance from higher authorities” regarding the peace process.

Like their SAF commander, Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, who was Napeñas’ deputy and is now acting SAF chief, and Train blame the AFP for their high casualties.

Train was asked in his affidavit why 44 SAF men died. His answer: “There was no immediate reinforcement upon extrication. AFP did not reach immediately even after we requested for indirect fire support.”

Taliño said in his sworn statement: “PNP SAF incurred so many casualties in this operation because the operating teams were not given artillery support on time. Had the first request of artillery support in the morning been granted, casualties on the government side could have been minimized.”

Napeñas said he was at the tactical command post (TCP) inside the Maguindanao provincial police office in Shariff Aguak town on Jan. 24 and 25 monitoring the mission to take down Marwan and Usman.

He said Train informed him at 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 25 that the assault team had killed Marwan.


Early success

After receiving the information from Train, Napeñas said he informed PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and suspended and now resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima that their mission to take down the Malaysian terrorist had been accomplished.

Shortly after, he added that the assault team got engaged by armed elements in a firefight.

“Next to be engaged was the 55SAC at past 6 a.m. They were supposed to link up with the main effort (Train’s team) during the extraction,” he recounted.

That was when they began frantic efforts to request for help from the AFP.

He said he advised Espina and Purisima of his request for reinforcement and artillery fire support from military units in Maguindanao.

He said Purisima had promised in one of their meetings that he would call AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. “for support if needed.”

He said Espina’s reply in the form of a text message was: “Tawagan mo si Resty for details, nakausap ko na (Call Resty for details, I have already talked to him).”

Espina was referring to his military school classmate, Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City.

As for the requested artillery support, Napeñas said the military officials told them “artillery cannot be utilized in this situation because of civilian presence in the area.”


More affidavits

The Board of Inquiry (BOI), meanwhile, has asked Catapang and Purisima to submit their affidavits on the incident.

The BOI is also set to interview Espina as well as some MILF personalities as part of its probe.

“I have furnished them with a question guide and I am waiting for their respective affidavits,” said police Director Benjamin Magalong Jr., BOI head and chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Espina said that Purisima is slated for interview today. “Tomorrow (today) is his scheduled interview. Actually, he was sick and had just recovered,” Espina said.

A BOI team is scheduled to fly to Mamasapano next week to verify statements from almost 400 resource persons and witnesses as well as interview key MILF personalities.

“I received favorable feedback,” Magalong said, referring to MILF’s reaction to BOI’s request for interview.

Magalong said the BOI is more than 70 percent complete in its inquiry into the Mamasapano clash.

“Basically, we know what happened – from mission planning to execution to termination,” Magalong said.

He stressed the result of the probe would definitely be made public. “It is what the public has been waiting for,” Magalong said.

Meanwhile, a source said an extremist group aligned with al-Qaeda is set to “resurrect” Marwan to dispute reports that he had been killed in Mamasapano.

The source told The STAR that preparations were being made to prove Marwan is alive without compromising his actual location.

“Among the option is the release of photo of Marwan holding a current newspaper,” he said.

The source, however, clarified that his information is still raw and needs validation from other sources.

A DNA sample taken from Marwan’s severed finger matched with that of his brother in detention in California, based on test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jaime Laude, Perseus Echeminada, Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/02/20/1425654/napenas-blames-afp-ceasefire-panel-high-death-toll
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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SAF relative felt insulted during PNoy face-to-face

02/20/2015 6:52 PM | Updated as of 02/20/2015 8:12 PM
Report by Chuck Tinte, ABS-CBN News

Palace says it respects differences on how PNoy was received
MANILA (UPDATED) - A relative of one of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed in the Mamasapano operation felt insulted by President Aquino's answers and overall demeanor when he talked to the families last Wednesday.

Jennifer (not her real name), told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview that Aquino did not seem serious about his answers to the questions about the Mamasapano operation that targeted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Relatives of the SAF commandos went to Camp Crame on Wednesday to submit the necessary documents for their benefits.

Each family is set to receive P250,000 from Malacanang, special financial assistance from the Philippine National Police, a P1.1 million pension and other benefits.

During the gathering, President Aquino and other government officials discussed with the families the benefits they will receive, including financial support from private companies.

Jennifer said they were offended about the President's replies.

"Yung isa sa kasamahan namin nagtanong about kung bakit hindi nagpadala ng airstrike, sabi ni PNoy: 'Naglalaro ka ba ng computer?' Syempre na-offend kami kasi inaasahan namin na sagot niya is either opinion niya or basta yung totoo," she said.

She said, at certain times, the President was laughing even as the relatives of the Fallen 44 asked for direct answers on who ordered the operation and why so many died.

"Sa maraming questions ng mga kasamahan namin, sasabihin niya: 'Tignan mo kung namumula ang mukha ko?' Ano yun? Natatawa siya. Nakakabastos kasi yung sagot na gusto namin, hindi niya masabi. Tumatawa siya habang sinasagot ang mga tanong namin," she said.

She said several of the families asked Aquino who should be blamed for the Mamasapano operation.

"Diretsong sinabi ni PNoy na 'Sino pa eh di si [relieved SAF director Getulio] Napenas kasi siya yung nagplano dito.' Sabi tuloy ng isang kasamahan namin: 'Kung si Napenas ang may kasalanan, puede bang bitayin nalang natin?'"

Jennifer said it is impossible for the President not to know about the operation in Mamasapano. The Senate inquiry earlier showed the President was briefed about the operation by both suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima and Napenas last January 9 in Malacanang.

It was during this meeting that Purisima told Napenas not to inform Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP OIC Leonardo Espina about the operation until it was already launched.

Quoting sources, a Philippine Star report also said Purisima was updating the President about the Mamasapano operation as early as 5 a.m. on January 25, the day it was launched.

'WASTE OF TIME'

For Jennifer, the President was washing his hands of any responsibility in the event and passing the blame to his subordinates.

"Useless pala siyang kausap...nagwaste tayo ng time," she said.

"Napakadisgusting yung way niya. Although kung sa kanya eh natural lang na galaw niya yun, sa amin kasi is hindi. Makikita mo talaga sa mukha na hindi siya interesado sa problema mo."

"Just looking at the face, malalaman mo kung interesado siya na makinig sa problema mo or kung gusto mong sabihin. Sa nakikita parang wala lang sa kanya, parang simpleng bagay lang ito sa kanya."

The President stayed with the families until 11 p.m. last Wednesday but not without assuring them of the government's support.

For Jennifer, what she wants is a face-to-face meeting with Aquino, Napenas, Purisima and other top PNP officials where all of the families of the slain commandos can speak freely.

"Gusto namin sila makaharap with the 44 families. Baka sakali makita kami at marinig nila ang mga hinaing namin eh makonsensya sila at masabi nila yung totoo," she said.

She said it would also be best if the President faces the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano incident.

"Gusto namin siya sumalang sa Senate hearing. Kaya nga nagrequest kami sa ibang matataas na opisyal natin sa Malacanang na tulungan kami na sumali sa senate hearing para at least personal naming na maririnig ang mga higher official natin."

RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING

Malacañang, meanwhile, said it respects the sentiments from some families of the fallen Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the President's conduct during his dialogue with them Wednesday night.

"Owing to the fact that their loss is very, very fresh and that they lost their loved ones in such a manner, we would understand… [that] they look at that opportunity to be able to ask the President questions differently. There are also families who have chosen not to speak of their private conversation but also did say they have no ill feelings towards the President. So at this point, we respect the differentiation of how he was received," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

http://mobile.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/02/20/15/saf-relative-felt-insulted-during-pnoy-face-face/
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Mamasapano clash: What happened according to the military

Cynthia D. Balana
@inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer
4:11 AM | Saturday, February 7th, 2015


This is the account of the Armed Forces of the Philippines of the Jan. 25 operation carried out by the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police in Maguindanao province to take down international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino aide Abdul Basit Usman.

The facts cited here are in the military investigation report of the fact-finding body as narrated to the Inquirer by a top military source. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, AFP chief of staff, who ordered an investigation into the allegation of Police Director Getulio Napeñas, the sacked SAF commander, that no Army reinforcement came, resulting in the killing of 44 SAF commandos, has forwarded the report to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who will submit it to President Benigno Aquino III.

Jan. 24 (Saturday)

11 p.m.—392 SAF commandos are stopped at a checkpoint manned by soldiers from the 45th Infantry Battalion (45th IB). “We’re cops, we have a mission,” the commandos say when asked to identify themselves. Two SAF groups go into the marshland, the 84th SAF Company headed by Supt. Raymond Train and tasked to get Marwan and the 55th SAF Company headed by Insp. Ryan Pabalinas, serving as the blocking force.

Jan. 25 (Sunday)

3 a.m.—Marwan is killed by the 84th Special Action Company (SAC). Marwan’s right index finger is cut off for DNA tests. First encounter between Train’s team and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

5 a.m.— Napeñas sends a text message to Maj. Gen. Eduardo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, informing him of an ongoing police operation against Marwan. Napeñas does not ask for reinforcements.

6 a.m. —The Alpha Company of the Army’s 45th IB hears gunfire about 4 kilometers away from the detachment. The 45th IB informs the brigade. Napeñas sends a text message to “chief PNP” (presumed to be suspended Director General Alan Purisima) cc: Pangilinan informing them of the encounter. Napeñas does not request reinforcements.

Between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.

—Pangilinan, sensing the SAF is in trouble, makes several calls. He orders Brig. Gen. Noli Orense of the AFP Ad Hoc Joint Action Group to call his counterpart in the MILF, Abdul Abad Dataya, and inform the MILF leadership about an encounter in Mamasapano and to order the rebels to withdraw. Dataya does not respond. Pangilinan assembles a reinforcement team and calls armor from the Mechanized Brigade to provide artillery support. Pangilinan orders the reinforcement team to look for the SAF’s location.

7:30 a.m.—Dataya finally returns Orense’s call. Dataya says he will inform the MILF leadership about Orense’s request.

7:45 a.m.—Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, Napeñas’ deputy commander, goes to the 1st Mechanized Brigade headquarters. Pangilinan tells Col. Gener del Rosario to coordinate with Taliño. Taliño gives the initial grid coordinates. But Del Rosario asks for the exact and latest grid coordinates of the two SAF companies as it is a running battle. Taliño cannot provide the information.

8:45 a.m.—Army reinforcement team sees the remaining 300 plus SAF commandos who have not entered the marshland scattered in the street. “Just sitting,” according to the Army report. Army reinforcement team talks to two SAF commanders on the ground—Supt. Hendrix Mangaldan and a certain Supt. Mangahas—to ask for the grid coordinates of the Train and Pabalinas teams. Neither officers know the coordinates. The Army reinforcements proceed into the marshland. The SAF commandos refuse to go with them. The 45th IB receives a call from a member of Train’s group, saying: “Hill, we’re on the hill in Barangay Tukanalipao. We are surrounded by the MILF. We have eight dead, three wounded and one missing. We cannot get out.” The Army soldiers figure out the commandos location and proceeds to extract them.

9 a.m.—Pangilinan receives a call from Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command about the request for reinforcements from Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, PNP officer in charge.

9:20 a.m.—Troops from the 23rd and 14th Mechanized Brigades and the 62nd Division Reconnaisance Company link up with the 45th SAC commandos in Tukanalipao.

10:30 a.m.—Second encounter, this time between Pabalinas’ group, the SAF blocking force positioned in a cornfield, and MILF guerrillas who have surrounded them. Pabalinas’ team is wiped out.

Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.—Army reinforcement team in the marshland receives sniper fire. Army engages the guerrillas.

2:30 p.m.—Joint Army and SAF forces set up a tactical command post to coordinate communications as there is no contact with SAF units in the marshland.

3 p.m.—Army artillery support tries to enter the marshland but fails due to narrow passages. Army’s V150 tank is hit.

5:30 p.m.—Under heavy fire from MILF guerrillas, Army reinforcement team deploys white phosphorous to give soldiers cover, a preparation for “call for fire procedure.” Seeing the white phosphorous in the air, artillery support team calculates their grid coordinates and fires several rounds on the other position of the fire fight. MILF guerrillas retreat.

6 p.m.—MILF leadership confirms MILF fighters withdrawal. Army reinforcements proceed to look for SAF survivors and dead.

7 p.m.—Soldiers retrieve the bodies of the SAF casualties. They radio the battalion to inform the 300 SAF commandos that everything is clear. SAF finally moves and helps the Army in retrieval operations.

8 p.m.—Soldiers locate Train and remaining members of his team and extract them safely.

Jan. 26 (Monday)

3 a.m.—Altercation between Napeñas and Pangilinan. Napeñas wants to resume the operation later as it is already 3 a.m. Pangilinan furious and tells Napeñas, “Goddamit, those are your people but you are pressing me to get them for you.”

Army continues retrieval operations until 2 p.m.

2 p.m.—PO2 Christopher Robert Lalan, the SAF survivor from Train’s team, is located by soldiers and taken to Army 45th IB headquarters to rejoin other SAF commandos. An angry Lalan kicks one of his comrades, demanding to know why reinforcements never came to support the two SAF groups that went in for the operation as planned.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/671126/mamasapano-clash-what-happened-according-to-the-military#ixzz3SOwnBG1u
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MILF fired first shot – survivor

Philippine StarBy By Jess Diaz | Philippine Star – Sun, Feb 22, 2015

Guerillas mostly belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fired the first shot that triggered the Jan. 25 bloody encounter in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which left 44 policemen, 18 Muslim rebels and four civilians dead.

This was according to Police Officer 2 Christopher Lalan, the lone survivor of the 36-member police blocking force tasked to help another team arrest suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino deputy Abdul Basit Usman.

Lalan belonged to the 55th Special Action Company (SAC) of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

Senior Inspector Ryan Pabalinas, one of the 35 blocking force members who died, led this team.

The group given the job to assault the suspected terrorists’ hideout and arrest them was 84th SAC, which lost nine men after killing Marwan. Supt. Raymund Train, one of the survivors, was the group leader.

Lalan’s testimony contradicts the statements made by MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar that SAF troopers fired at their fighters and residents of Tukanalipao who, he said, were forced to return fire in self defense.

It is also contrary to the claim of MILF Commander Haraemen that SAF men ambushed his group while crossing the now iconic bridge in the village, killing two of his men who fell into the river.

In a sworn statement taken by a PNP investigator, Lalan said the blocking force was not “able to reach waypoint 19 where we should be positioned in support of the main effort (Train’s assault team) because after crossing the small bridge made of bamboo and wood somewhere along waypoint 11 or 12, we heard burst of gunfire at the target area around 0400H.”

He was apparently referring to the gunfight that erupted between members of the assault team and their targets, Marwan and Usman.

In this clash, according to Train’s own affidavit, it was Marwan’s group that started the firefight.

Train said: “When we approached the target, an IED (improvised explosive device) was triggered and exploded, which hit my point man and myself with shrapnel, and in a short while, a sudden burst of gunfire emanated from his (Marwan’s) house. This prompted us to retaliate until Marwan was killed.”
Usman, who was in another hut a short distance from Marwan’s quarters, escaped.

The armed group that the assault team encountered on their way out of their target belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, an MILF breakaway faction.

After his group heard gunfire from the Train team’s location, Lalan said their officers decided that they would “return to the other side of the bridge in order to block any resistance coming from the community so it will be less difficult for us to withdraw, same with the main effort.”

“However, someone shouted upon us, so we immediately turned back and positioned ourselves in line formation in the cornfield facing the other side of the bridge and observed,” he said.

From the cornfield, he said they heard “sounds (that) seem to be surrounding us and had seen armed men growing in number using our NVGs (night vision goggles).”

“We concluded that they were maneuvering, so from that point we formed a box formation as ordered by our officers and prepared for any firefight,” he said.

“Likewise, our officers instructed us to be alert, and when they fire at us, that will be the time we fire back. We stayed like that for almost one hour and a half, observing the armed men growing in number,” he added.

“At around 5:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., a volume of gunfire was heard coming from different directions toward our location. That was the start of the gun battle. At about 6:30, I heard PO2 (Sungay) Kiangan shout, ‘Sir, Anniban is dead,” he recounted, referring to Senior Inspector Cyrus Anniban.

Asked what they did next, the lone 55th SAC survivor said, “I am not certain who from our officers, but there were commands to return fire whenever we have a clear shot to maximize our ammo. Likewise, I heard a request from our officers through radio or cellular phone for support as early as 7 or 8 a.m. while being engaged.”

He said a long firefight followed the initial exchange of gunfire.

“At around 2 p.m., I saw that most of my comrades were already dead and that we are out of ammo and noticed some of my comrades crawling towards an area of lesser gunshots. I decided to extricate myself with the hope that I may be able to survive, and so I asked permission from by senior officer that I would take my chance. So he let me go,” he said.

Lalan recalled that he escaped by jumping into the river but not before tackling four armed men, two of whom he killed with his M4 assault rifle, which had run out of ammunition, and his Glock.

“The two (remaining) armed men searched for me and strafed the riverside, but fortunately I was not hit,” he said.
He said he evaded and hid himself from other armed groups, scared away other men with his rifle and pistol, and ran in circles in the cornfield and a sprinkling of huts trying to find his way out before finding a team of Army soldiers who turned him over to his SAF colleagues.

Asked why their group failed to reach their assigned waypoint, Lalan said, “Because we were so slow. The tail portion of our group could not catch up with us in the front because they have with them heavy ammunitions and the 90RR (recoilless rifle). They were always asking for a ‘halt’.”

Based on the accounts of other officers involved in the operation to take down Marwan and Usman, the failure of the Train team and the blocking force to reach their assigned positions on time pushed back the support groups – 41st to the 45th SACs, composed of more than 300 men.

The support teams were even told to slow down.

They were assigned waypoints apparently so they could be within short distances from each other in case they need reinforcement.

In all, 392 SAF personnel were mobilized for the operation.

Lalan was the navigator of the first blocking team led by Senior Inspector John Garry Eraña.

He said they conducted preparations in their base in Zamboanga City for one week, doing rehearsals, train modeling, simulation exercises and physical training.

They left their base on the night of Jan. 22.

If SAF were receiving ample funding from the United States or from Malacañang, as some quarters have speculated, it did not show in the way the blocking force traveled from Zamboanga City to Maguindanao. Their transportation – an old, rented Elf truck – broke down twice.

Lalan said they had a final briefing and equipment check at about 9 p.m. of Jan. 24 before going to their assigned vehicle drop-off point, from where they were to walk toward their designated waypoint.

Based on the text messages sent and received by relieved SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas, he informed high-ranking military officers in Maguindanao led by Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, of the operation to take down Marwan and Usman as early as 5:09 a.m. on Jan. 25.

Before 6:30 a.m., when his men and Muslim rebels had already clashed, he promptly asked for help from the military.

Military officials earlier said the Army fired blank artillery rounds at about 6 p.m., scaring away Moro fighters and enabling soldiers and members of the SAF support teams to extricate Train and other survivors of the assault team.

By this time, 35 members of the blocking force had already died.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/milf-fired-first-shot-survivor-000000917.html
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The controversial exchange of SMS between PNoy and Purisima

Ishi Gonzales
Monday, February 23rd, 2015 at 1:10 pm

The Senate of the Philippines released today the exchange of text messages between President Aquino and suspended now resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima during the January 25, 2015 Special Action Forces operation against two high value targets Basit Usman and Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

5:45AM Purisima: Sir good morning, for info, SAF elements implemented oplan vs high value targets. as of now, result indicate that marwan was killed and 1 saf trooper wounded; body of marwan left behind but pictures were taken; troopers are now withdrawal phase and progress report to follow.

7:36AM President Aquino: Why was it left behind? the other two targets?

7:48AM Purisima: Sir, accordingly, when nearest target from the line of approach is M1, and when they hit the primary target, the other house where Basit Usman was located, reacted and fired at troopers… there were about 15-20 armed elements, it was about 4:30am and it was decided that they pull out after gathering pictures and other evidence, they were not able to reach secondary target, sir.

7:59AM President Aquino: If i remember correctly, 160 SAF troopers involved plus provisions for other pnp and afp units to assist, terrain is flat and clear as opposed to upland, forested or jungle terrain. why could they not contain/overwhelm the 15-20 opposing force? are they still in contact with the other two targets? if not, and opposing force escaped, are we now back to square one?

8:17AM Purisima: they are presently in contact with reinforcing elements with BIFF, the containment forces are in contact right now, they are supported by mechanized and artillery support sir…

8:18AM Purisima: the local target Basit and his group, the first group engaged by main effort group.

8:41AM President Aquino: review your earlier and latest texts they differ on which was engaged first.

8:45AM Purisima: the first target was M1, where they were able to neutralize, the group of basit retaliated which was 100m away.

10:16AM President Aquino: Basit should not get away

11:38AM Purisima: Sir, as of the moment the main effort is withdrawing, we still have contact and we will hit them again.

6:20PM Purisima: Sir, latest report from operating elements in Maguindanao say, that security elements engaged by MILF/BIFF, suffered heavy casualties, reportedly overrun, CCCH and IMT in the area retrieving casualties, the main effort is still in the process of rendezvous with other SAF and AFP elements.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/02/23/8771-the-controversial-exchange-of-sms-between-pnoy-and-purisima
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Purisima told PNoy SAF troopers backed by military

By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 02/23/2015 1:30 PM

MANILA – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima on Monday said he informed President Benigno Aquino III that military reinforcements were already supporting the elite police commandos in Mamasapano even though this was not the actual situation on the ground.

Speaking at the resumption of the Senate inquiry on the January 25 clash, Purisima revealed a portion of his text message exchanges with the president during the day of the operation.

In the text message he sent to the president at 8:17 a.m., Purisima said the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers were already being backed up by mechanized and artillery support from the military.

Purisima said he relayed this information to the president after receiving a text message from Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero.

Guerrero, however, clarified that what he meant was that there were available troops and equipment on the ground but those were not yet dispatched due to the scarcity of information about the ongoing operations.

Guererro, nonetheless, said he ordered the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, led by Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, to provide reinforcements to the SAF troopers as early as 6:07 a.m.

''I confirmed I texted him that. To quote, 'meron nang coordination sa ground, tank infantry and artillery are made available'. It was sent at 8:03 a.m. and my intent in telling him about this is these are the available forces on the ground, meaning ito ang naka-lay down sa area ng Mindanao,'' Guerrero said.

''Hindi ko po sinasabing pumuputok na ang artillery at pumuputok na ang tanke. Ito ay call ng ground commander. Ang sinasabi ko eto ang available sa area kasi ngayon lang kayo nagsabi. Kung nagsabi kayo, I could have deployed air assets the day before."

Purisima, however, said he had a different interpretation of Guerrero's text message.

''That understanding proved very costly,'' said Senator Francis Escudero.

Purisima is under fire for getting involved in the operation since he was still serving his 6-month suspension for graft at that time.

The Mamasapano raid was meant to arrest Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkfli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino cohort Abdul Basit Usman.

Marwan was killed in the raid, according to the DNA test of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Usman, on the other hand, managed to escape.

The decision to inform the military only on the day of the police raid is one of the key tactical mistakes that led to the killing of 44 SAF troopers.

Privileged information

Mike Musngi of the Office of the Executive Secretary said the communications between Purisima and Aquino are covered by executive privilege, but they are not objecting to the disclosure in the interest of transparency.

''I understand that what will be revealed today includes communications between president and his subordinate. In the interest of transparency, we will allow this but commonly this is covered by presidential privilege on communications,'' Musngi said.

Purisima said that at 5:45 a.m., he informed Aquino through text that the operation succeeded in neutralizing Marwan but the troops failed to carry his body.

The president replied at 7:36 a.m., asking why Marwan's body was left behind, to which Purisima replied that the SAF troopers were engaged by about 15 to 20 armed elements.

The chief executive then questioned why the SAF troopers failed to extricate Marwan's body when 160 SAF troops were supposedly deployed for the operation.

''Why could they not contain and/or overwhelm the 15 to 20 member opposing force? Are they still in contact with the 2 other targets? If not and the opposing force has escaped, are we now back to square one?" Aquino asked Purisima.

It was at this point where Purisima told Aquino that the SAF troopers ''are presently in contact with reinforcing elements from BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters). The containment forces are the ones in contact right now. They are supported by mechanized and artillery support."

It was already 6:20 p.m. or Sunday evening when Purisima told Aquino about the heavy SAF casualties.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/23/15/purisima-told-pnoy-saf-troopers-backed-military
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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Undate on investigation



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ullfam3nTNE#t=440

NP BOI, nag-inspeksyon sa pinangyarihan ng madugong engkuwentro sa Mamasapano
Date posted: Feb 24, 2015 10:25pm
Reporter: Maki Pulido
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/265573/stateofthenation/pnp-boi-nag-inspeksyon-sa-pinangyarihan-ng-madugong-engkuwentro-sa-mamasapano
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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Marwan's hut was burned by unidentified men


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG4_I-jbrT8

Motibo sa pagsunog sa kubong tinirhan ni Marwan, hindi pa tukoy
Date posted: Feb 25, 2015 7:13pm
Reporter: Cedric Castillo
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/265737/qrt/motibo-sa-pagsunog-sa-kubong-tinirhan-ni-marwan-hindi-pa-tukoy
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
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