Navy-Marine team sent to probe fatal Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines–A team has been sent to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of seven Marine soldiers and wounding of nine others in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu on Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, told the INQUIRER that the team, which is part of a bigger group–the Board of Inquiry (BOI) of the Philippine Navy and Marines–will “determine if there were lapses in the operation.”

Lt. Vladimir Cabrera, spokesperson of Philippine Marine Corps, in a phone interview said the investigation was requested by the Wesmincom to conduct the probe.

Ardo said the team left for Sulu on Monday morning.

Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, Wesmincom spokesperson, refused to allow the Philippine Daily Inquirer and some Zamboanga City-based journalists to interview the wounded Marines. He, however, allowed a Manila-based television crew to go inside the military hospital.

Ardo said the inquiry board was tasked to “find out what really happened and who erred on this test mission.”

The Marines who were killed were considered “students” who were on a test mission prior to their acceptance to the Reconnaissance unit of the Philippine Marines. One of those killed was 2nd Lt. Alfredo Lorin VI, a graduate of the elite Philippine Military Academy.

“But they are not like ordinary students, they are already Marines. The Recon Class is one specialization within the Philippine Marines,” Ardo said.

Ardo, however, said he wanted to find out what happened to the test mission that resulted in the death and wounding of the government troops.

“It is not their (Recon team’s) job to engage bigger groups, their job is to find and locate the positions of the enemy and inform the major operating troops. But if their position is compromised, the Recon is allowed to engage,” he said.

Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, 2nd Marine Brigade commander and head of the Joint Task Force Sulu, in a phone interview said soldiers were members of the Class 18 of the Reconnaissance Force Battalion from Ternate, Cavite, and were sent to Sulu a month ago for the test mission.

“They were not able to execute their test mission because of the election period,” Cenabre said.  Julie S. Alipala and Jeofrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao