Video by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—“We are one. We are strong. We will overcome.”
These were the words of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. amid speculations of rifts between the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) because of the bungled Mamasapano raid. Top officials showed up at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday in a supposed display of unity.
Before the presentation of the firearms returned by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a senior military official asked the generals to link arms to show solidarity.
“We welcome our PNP brothers in arms here today in Camp Aguinaldo. Your presence here today together with Secretary Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas II, your big brother, means a lot to us. It only shows that we are one, we are strong and we will overcome,” Catapang said in his speech.
In return, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina thanked Catapang for his efforts for the activity.
“I was really very grateful and thankful for the efforts he has exerted, ever since we were cadets. I and General Catapang have always been together and until now, until maybe after retirement we will always be together and that bespeaks the unity of the AFP and the PNP as we surpass the crisis that we underwent,” Espina said in his statement.
Both were classmates or mistah at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981. The alleged brains of the operations, resigned PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisima, was also their classmate.
The bungled operations by the PNP Special Action Force in an attempt to arrest two known terrorists—Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman—killed 44 police officers.
The AFP, which was kept in the dark during the covert operation, was blamed due to the supposed delayed reinforcements. Both organizations were criticized because of lack of coordination.
“We just want to reiterate that we are band of brothers. Walang iwanan (No one gets left behind). We are just doing our job. Walang personal dito (Nothing personal here),” Catapang later told reporters on the sidelines.
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