Let’s retrospect the #TrendingIssues in the 2014 Philippine Government. Since the 2016 election is getting nearer, the mass should be aware of the issues the country have had. At this very moment, I would like to focus on the biggest news outbreak in the Philippines—the Mamasapano Incident.  

No reinforcements deployed for the men of SAF who were hardly battling in Mamasapano

BY FERDINAND TOLENTINO

These ‘Mamasapano Encounter’ issues may be a never-ending issue unless the covert stories will be revealed and the responsible persons will claim their insolent deeds to those concerned Filipino citizens and also to the Philippine History.

Glitches and deformities could happen even in a deliberately planned operation. Conversely, what could happen in an ‘indecisive planned’ operation against a large horde of nemesis? The absurd truth is, even an illiterate child can answer the question. It is easy to extrapolate the result of the incident knowing the huge lack of support and equipments of the Special Action Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas.

“My men were still alive at noon but no reinforcements came,” thus spoke Police Director Getulio Napeñas on an interview about the Mamasapano Encounter. Moreover, Napeñas was firmed to announce that the SAF members were battling against MILF with no left ammunition in their guns as it is the optimal means to survive. The SAF men were slowly eradicated from the gun battle with no support and coordination from the Army.

The question is where are the reinforcements?

The call for reinforcements went out at 6 a.m. Meanwhile, news reports announced that they (SAF and MILF) were still fighting at 3.p.m. The time interval between the call for reinforcements and the battle in Mamasapano is enough to declare that our men had no chance on winning the battle.

Nevertheless, the coordination was done with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was very heart-piercing to know that there were no any reinforcements deployed to support the SAF men. But the most lament fact is that the nearest Philippine Army units that could respond were the Mechanized Brigade in Shariff Aguak town, the 45th Infantry Battalion located near in Mamasapano where the encounter happens.

  The SAF Men families are now grieving for what had happened. They are all asking for one thing—justice. 

Covert stories behind Mamasapano Encounter revealed; 7 Civilians found dead

From the retrospect articles about the tragic Mamasapano Incident, news headlines were all announcing the death of SAF 44 and also the persons to be blamed to.

However, headlines can never tell the whole story.

7 Civilians, including a child in the age of 7 died due to a stray bullet in the midst of Mamasapano Clash Incident. Now, their families are ranting and fighting for justice.  But the question is to whom should the blame of the innocent’s death be addressed?  The Article III Section 1 of the Republic Act of the Philippines is stating that, "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

It was only the SAF 44 men who were given the death identity according to the news reports. The 7 civilians, nevertheless, were smoke screened from the bombardment of the allegations towards PNoy.  The case must be addressed or tackled in the on-going process of the Senate hearing about the Mamasapano clash.  Those civilians, just like the SAF 44 also deserve justice for the lost of their lives

PNoy’s dark side about the Mamasapano Incident

In an interview on Philippine Daily Inquirer, Napeñas said that he was taking the full responsibility for what happened in Mamasapano. Prior to that, he said that he decided not to coordinate with his superiors—Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the PNP officer in charge, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas—which delayed the arrival of reinforcements to cost the lives of the SAF men. But the thing is he said he was just following orders.

Who gave the go-signal?

Napeñas answered with no hesitation that the President is accountable in giving the signal for the SAF mission. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino authorized the “Oplan Exodus” which aims to get Marwan, a bomb expert from the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. In view thereof, PNoy has been working on the said mission for a long time with Napeñas. At the peak of the commitment in the mission, Napeñas admitted that he just followed orders because that’s what they do—they just follow orders.

However, PNoy did not categorically say that he gave the go-signal.

On the subsequent reports pertinent to the death of the SAF44, PNoy said on a text message to a family member of the killed SAF men, “Ano gusto nyo gawin ko, kunin natin ang fingerprint ng mga kalaban? Aba madami iyun, para malaman natin kung ang sino pumatay sa mga kamag-anak nyo. Namatay rin ang tatay ko, alam ko pakiramdam niyo kaya patas na rin tayo ngayon." Morever, PNoy reiterated that it was Napeñas fault. He also allegedly said,” Ang may kasalanan diyan, 'yung nag-utos na papuntahin sila dun. Alam na delikado tinuloy pa rin at si Napeñas iyun.” For every pointing of fingers of PNoy, it can be inferred that his four other fingers are pointing back at him.

To wrap it up, the last line of the Philippine National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang says, “Ang mamatay nang dahil sa’yo (to die because of you).” This might not be a metaphorical statement now, perhaps, a literal message from the SAF 44.