Oplan Exodus: 392 SAF prepared for 1,000 armed men in Mamasapano operation

The expected movement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and even private armed groups were among the factors taken into consideration in the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force's Oplan Exodus, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” said Wednesday.

 

GMA News obtained a copy of Oplan Exodus, the police commandos plan to neutralize suspected international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan.

 

The operation contained information about the whereabouts of various groups in the target area including the MILF, BIFF and private armed groups estimated to be over 1,000 individuals.

Police officials earlier said that 392 police commandos were involved in the operation.

 

It detailed that there were at least two BIFF outposts which were nearest to their target area where Marwan was believed in hiding.

 

There were also three MILF outposts near the area namely the 105th, 106th and 118th base commands.

 

Oplan Exodus strictly stated that firing at hostiles will only be done as a form of self defense and selective and precision firing will be observed.

 

It also said the enemy's most dangerous courses of action would be to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices scattered in the area which will alert their allies to engage operating troops.

 

Oplan Exodus was launched on January 25 which targeted Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman in their hideouts in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which was a known moro rebel stronghold.

 

Some 400 elite lawmen from the PNP's SAF branch conducted the operation but at least 44 were killed and 12 were injured after a support unit was allegedly flanked by armed rebels. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News