THE search for truth and justice continues for the bloody clash between PNP-SAF and MILF forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 elite policemen and 19 Moro rebels dead on Jan. 25.
As various investigations over the deadly encounter dig deeper, one of the main reasons cited for the botched police operation—for the arrest of Malaysian bomb maker and Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir, known as Marwan, and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman—is the lack of coordination among essential government agencies.
Brigadier General Angelito De Leon, deputy chief of staff for operations for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), told the Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano clash that there are mechanisms under the ceasefire agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government involving operations against high-value targets.
De Leon revealed that the implementation of such operation requires close coordination among the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), AFP, PNP, MILF and its armed wing Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF).
“When operating independently as a single force, PNP units shall take orders from its parent unit, but must coordinate with the nearest tactical unit of the AFP to ensure a coordinated and focused operations in the particular area,” De Leon noted.
With a global terrorist as a target and national security at stake, what made the PNP act on its own and break protocol?
Eliseo Mercado, a former member the government peace process team believes it was the bounty placed upon Marwan and Usman that the police were after. The US government has placed $5 million bounty on the head of Marwan and a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Usman’s arrest.
Mercado alleged that in the past, security forces have collected reward money from high profile arrest. However, PNP-SAF Director Getulio Napeñas that their goal was not money-driven. The mission was for the thousands more who could die in Marwan’s bomb attacks.
Because the ongoing investigations are aimed to identify those accountable for the death of the 44 brave men who were merely fighting for peace and security in the country, some Filipinos urge that the issue on the reward money should also be tackled.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad insists that the reward should be given to the bereaved families of the fallen officers. Several lawmakers agree.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares urged the government to coordinate with its US counterpart to ensure the reward money is distributed among the kin of the slain commandos—“to somewhat compensate for their loss.”
Malacañang earlier said that the reward money is not a priority right now. Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. said that the administration is more focused on ferreting out the truth in the Mamasapano clash, ensuring justice for the slain 44 elite police officers and providing support for their families.
Under the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, the reward is supposed to go to “anyone who provides actionable information that will either help us prevent or favorably resolve acts of international terrorism against the US anywhere in the world.”
“However, under the law that governs the program, US, state, local, and foreign government employees are generally not eligible for a reward if they provide information obtained in the performance of their official duties,” the program’s rules add. This makes the SAF officers ineligible for the reward money.
According to earlier reports, the multi-million reward might end up on the hands of two MILK members who provided Marwan’s whereabouts to the PNP. The two were recruited by the PNP Intelligence Group in January. They joined the Mamasapano operation and both survived the bloody encounter. They are now being hidden in a safe house.
Was mission accomplished after the FBI confirmed the death of Marwan? Perhaps that is the only consolation for now.
(AJPress)