Top security execs kept in dark on other operations vs Marwan

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino’s top security officials were apparently kept in the dark not just about the Jan. 25 operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, but also about previous attempts which sacked Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas claimed had all failed due to the lack of cooperation from the military.

This was revealed in an 11-minute video of a briefing obtained by the Inquirer from a well-placed source.

In the briefing, Napeñas told Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that there had been two previous attempts to get Marwan but which did not push through because of the lack of support from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which has jurisdiction over Central Mindanao.

This was mentioned by Napeñas when Gazmin grilled him about the apparent lack, or delayed coordination, of the SAF with the 6th ID.

The botched Mamasapano operation that left 67 people dead—44 SAF commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians, including an eight-year-old girl—also dealt a huge blow to the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

“From the time of 2013 March, plus those other two attempts, did you report to whoever it was? Up in the chain, to coordinate? In other words, if the SAF felt it was not receiving support, I don’t recall ever being called to a meeting with Sec Voltz or the President to talk about lack of support,” Roxas said.

First attempt

Napeñas replied: “Yes sir, the first attempt sometime in February or March, but the records [are] there, I did report to the Chief PNP, and I believe sir, it reached the higher [ups] about the non-support of the Mechanized Brigade during the first attempt, sir, in 2013.”

“Assuming that happened, there was never a meeting that was called to bring the various uniformed services together on this matter. What about the other two attempts? Likewise, there was no…” Roxas said, his voice trailing off.

Napeñas said: “It was all reported to the Chief PNP, sir, considering these operations were not sanctioned, not just the Chief PNP but including the higher authorities.”

By “chief PNP,” Napeñas was referring to the now resigned PNP head, Director General Alan Purisima.

Aquino admission

President Aquino has admitted discussing “Operation: Exodus,” the plan to take down Marwan, with Purisima even after the latter had been suspended following corruption allegations.

Roxas and Espina were also not aware of the Jan. 25 operation.

Neither were Gazmin, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) head Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero and 6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan.

Maguindanao, which is under Central Mindanao, is in the area of operations of the Westmincom and the 6th ID.

It was only during the Jan. 26 briefing that all these officials learned first-hand from Napeñas of the SAF operation to neutralize Marwan.

The briefing took place at the 6th ID headquarters in Camp Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao, before noontime, when only 26 SAF commandos had been confirmed dead. The rest were still considered missing.

Most of what was discussed in the video was mentioned in the Senate hearings, including President Aquino’s meetings with Purisima and Napeñas and the SAF plan to inform the military about the Marwan operation “time on target,” among other things.

‘What coordination?’

In the video, Gazmin was heard saying that by informing Pangilinan about the operation at 5:06 a.m. of Jan. 25, there was no “coordination” with the military.

Napeñas said he sent a text message to Pangilinan at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. of Jan. 25, but checking his mobile phone, Pangilinan showed the text message to Gazmin.

Gazmin cut off Napeñas and said: “You were already… you had already started the operation?”

Roxas said: “In fact, at 0500, they were already there [at target site].”

Gazmin told Napeñas in Filipino and English: “The operation has been completed. That’s not coordination. Do you call that coordination?”