Catapang: Reinforcement to extract SAF men, not to fight MILF

AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. says coordination could have made a difference in the Mamasapano operations which killed 44 police officers. FRANCES MANGOSING/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. admitted that the reinforcement sent for the Mamasapano clashes in Maguindanao which killed 44 police officers were meant to extricate the troops and not engage them because of the peace talks.

“Yes we came there to reinforce them but the reinforcement was to extricate them not join the fight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters] or whatever combat units they were engaged,” he said at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

The Philippine government has a ceasefire agreement with the MILF.

“We signed an agreement that there will be a mechanism that if firing starts, what we will do is to put a stop on the firing first. Parang ang purpose nun peace talks is if there will be skirmishes or clashes or engagement, we will ask the ceasefire mechanism to stop the fighting,” Catapang said.

He said that by 9 a.m. on January 25, they linked up with the forces of the PNP in Tukanalipao but they were fired upon by the Moro rebels.

“They cannot penetrate kasi hindi nga po nila alam kung saan yung lugar ng beleaguered SAF units,” he said.

On January 25, members of the SAF were supposed to serve warrant for Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifi bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomber Basit Usman. Circulating reports said that Marwan was killed in the clash but is still subject to DNA testing.

The police troops figured in an hours-long firefight with BIFF and MILF.

The military was heavily criticized for supposedly not being able to respond immediately to the request of reinforcements.

Soldiers also returned fire when they were fired at by the rebels. However, they were not able to move closer to find out where it was coming from.

“Dahil may firefight hindi natin malaman kung swan nanggagaling yung putok, they still have to verify kasi nga po we do not know where we’re going. We were expecting the 45th SAF will be the one to lead us because they should know where the position of the 55th SAF and the 84th SAF,” he said.

SAF troops were fully extracted by 11:30p.m. because the military did not know the exact location of the forces.

He clarified, however that the agreement does not hinder them from doing law enforcement operations.

“There was a need to coordinate kasi papasok sa MILF area. Ito po yung encounter area, pero nandito po yung 105th MILF, 106th, merong 1118, merong BIFF, may MNLF may [private armed groups], so there was a really need to coordinate,” Catapang said.

“What is important is that we have to coordinate. PNP units may operate as part of the joint AFP-PNP force or as a single force in the conduct of combat operations subject to the following: 1) when operating jointly with the AFP, tasked PNP units shall be attached or placed under operational control of the AFP with the operational responsibility of the area of operations; 2) when operating independently as a single force, PNP units shall take orders form their parent unit but must coordinate with the nearest tactical units of the AFP to ensure a coordinated and focused operations in a particular area,” he added.