Military mum on Senate findings on Mamasapano raid

MANILA, Philippines—The military has remained tight-lipped on the Senate findings on the Mamasapano incident, which was released on Tuesday.

“The military did what they could do based on the information available to them during that time. It remains that way, it was the best that they could do,” Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said at a press briefing.

READ: Senate draft report: Aquino ‘ultimately responsible’ for Mamasapano mission

The military was criticized for sending delayed reinforcement to police troops in Mamasapano on Jan. 25 supposedly due to lack of information. They were informed only time on target, or as the mission was executed. The botched operation killed 44 police officers, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and five civilians.

“The AFP did not fire artillery support to the 55th SAC in the morning of Jan. 25, owing to incomplete information from the PNP-SAF,” part of the executive summary read.

“If the AFP has been allowed by circumstances to respond earlier in the day to support the pinned down 55th SAC, it is possible that the battle may have ended sooner,” it also read.

A separate report from the Philippine National Police board of inquiry, however, concluded that the military’s area commander in Central Mindanao, Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, did not order artillery fire because of the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.