PNP, AFP hit for relying on SMS at height of Mamasapano battle

 Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Gringo Honasan on Tuesday said coordination between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the conduct of the deadly Mamasapano operation should not have been done just through text message.

“Coordination should not be verbal and through text message. It should be written in the operations plan,” Honasan said in Filipino.

The senator issued the statement after the PNP and the AFP told a Senate hearing that coordination between them was done through text messages when members of the Special Action Force (SAF) were embroiled in a firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Honasan said the operations plan should contain information like coordinating instructions, withdrawal plan, re-supply of bullets among others.

“Sa gitna ng putukan wala kang panahon para maghintay ng desisyon,” he said.

On January 25, 44 members of the PNP-SAF were killed in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao.