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Philippine president admits prior knowledge of bungled police raid

Blames head of police special action force for failure to coordinate with other agencies
Philippine president admits prior knowledge of bungled police raid
Published: January 28, 2015 02:17 PM GMT
Updated: April 21, 2015 07:10 PM GMT

Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday admitted that he had prior knowledge about the bungled anti-terror police operation that killed 44 police commandos on Sunday. 

In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, Aquino blamed the leader of the police's Special Action Force (SAF) for not coordinating with the military and other security units before the operation.

"To my repeated reminder for the need of coordination [with other units], the director of the SAF only answered 'Yes, Sir,'' Aquino said in Tagalog. 

The president said the commander of the police unit only gave "very minimum compliance" to the order.

Aquino admitted that there was a need to respond to "actionable intelligence" against suspected terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and a certain Abdulbasit Usman, but added that "there was lack of coordination" between the military and the police.

Marwan is allegedly one of the 2002 Bali bombers who has a US$5 million price on his head, while Usman is reportedly a commander of the renegade Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mindanao.

“[The chief of the police unit] said he needs operational security…. But I emphasized the need to alert other units… for them to be able to adequately prepare," Aquino said.

On Sunday, police commandos entered Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province, an area controlled by the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front, to arrest Marwan and Usman.

After killing a person they thought to be Marwan, the police withdrew but were ambushed by the BIFF, a militant splinter group that rejects the peace deal and pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq last year.

The policemen escaped but strayed into territory controlled by the 10,000-member MILF, which signed a peace deal with the government last March.

The police suffered 44 dead and 12 wounded, while the rebels admitted on Wednesday to have suffered at least eight fatalities.

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said MILF fighters only defended themselves during the incident. He said the government forces did not inform the MILF about the operation.

While both the government and the MILF said that the incident will not affect the peace deal in Mindanao, the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives already suspended committee hearings on a proposed law that would put in place an autonomous political entity for Muslims in Mindanao.

In his address to the nation, Aquino appealed to the public to continue supporting the peace process in Mindanao and to help the families of the slain police commandos.

"Some sectors are trying to take advantage of the situation to derail the peace process," the president said, adding "the peace process will continue."

Opposition congressman Terry Ridon of the Youth Party said Aquino only raised more questions than answers in his televised speech.

"We are not surprised in the fact that Aquino just washed his hands of accountability," said Ridon. 

The legislator also pointed out that the president did not comment on why American troops were present after the operation.

"Aquino totally blotted possible US intervention and commandeering during the incident. He just kept saying that he has no facts yet. Truly incredulous, especially for a nation’s leader," Ridon said.

Vencer Crisostomo, leader of the youth group Anakbayan, said the president wasted his opportunity to admit responsibility for the botched operation. 

"It is doubly deplorable that the commander in chief was just plainly interested in clearing his name instead of claiming direct responsibility for the fatal encounter," Crisostomo said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Association of Generals and Flag Officers called for the surrender of MILF rebels who were involved in last Sunday’s incident.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Edilberto Adan, president of the organization of retired military officials, said the incident, which he described as "carnage," should be jointly investigated by the government and the MILF.

"There should be an investigation first to identify the forces involved…. It will be known there how the forces involved, particularly the MILF, conducted themselves during the battle. Was there excessive force,” said Adan.

The retired general also said the return of the firearms of the slain policemen and the surrender of the MILF rebels should be set as a condition by the government before proceeding with the peace process. 

MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim, meanwhile, reiterated his commitment to the peace process in a statement released on Wednesday.

Murad also expressed the MILF’s "deepest sympathies" to the families and friends of the police commandos who died in the encounter.

The rebel leader said the MILF and the government have been in negotiations for some time now, and that "protocols, ways of proceedings and mechanisms" have been established in support of peace.

"It is unfortunate, but not entirely surprising, that when parties do not follow established protocols, lives are placed in harm's way. We therefore recommit ourselves to follow these processes and protocols," said Murad.

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