Ex-SAF chief blames late reinforcement for deaths of PNP-SAF 44

By ROUCHELLE R. DINGLASAN, GMA News

Published February 9, 2015 12:33pm

(Updated 4:35 p.m.) Relieved PNP-SAF head Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. on Monday blamed late reinforcement for the deaths of 44 elite police officers during the Mamasapano clash last month.

In his opening statement during the Senate hearing, Napeñas said: "In other words, had the artillery support we requested arrived on time, the situation would have been entirely different."

"Though I admit, it may not have guaranteed zero-casualty on our part at the very least, had the artillery support arrived hours earlier, the number of casualties would have been way lesser than the actual figure," he added.

The former SAF chief admitted that they did not coordinate with the military on the Mamasapano operations because some information may leak.

"The PNP Intelligence Group is very much concerned of the compromise whenever coordination is done with the AFP including our own intelligence unit. And this is based on our past experiences," he said.

Napeñas said that previous operations - Oplan Terminator and Oplan Wolverine - in coordination with the wilitary has failed. On the first instance, Napeñas claimed the AFP withdrew its forces, while on the other one, the soldiers attacked the targets' lair without coordinating with the PNP.

"These are just few of the reasons why in the succeeding operation, the coordination with the AFP will be time-on-target of the arresting force, in order to avoid the possibility that our operation would be compromised," he explained.

"The main reason is that the information and preparation of operation are leaked whenever major operations against high value targets are conducted," he added.

For his part, Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. explained that the responding military unit cannot simply reinforce without knowing he details of the operations.

"That's still to be determined kasi, we just can't fire your artillery… Kung tatamaan din natin 'yung SAF forces, what's the use of firing?" he said in a chance interview after the Senate hearing.

"You have to verify. They are moving. So, you should know their location," he added.

Last week, Catapang said that coordinating early with the military could have made the difference for the 44 Special Action Force police troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano.

"Kung nakipag-coordinate sila, siyempre i-inform namin ang MILF na may operation kami riyan sa lugar na 'yan, huwag sila makikialam," Catapang said in an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio on "Unang Balita" last Feb. 4

The January 25 incident resulted in the deaths of the 44 elite police officers and thw wounding of 12 others. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front claimed 18 of its fighters were killed in the clash.

The MILF's breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, was also involved in the encounter.

The PNP SAF's mission was to serve the warrant of arrest to two suspected terrorists -- Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman -- who were confirmed to be hiding in the area.

Marwan, who has a $5 million bounty on his head, reportedly died during the clash, while Usman managed to escape.

"Sa madaling salita… ang mga SAF troopers sa Barangay Tukanalipao ay nagtungo sa lugar na iyon nang may humigit pa sa sapat na paghahanda," Napeñas said. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: mamasapanoclash, getulionapeñas