Komunidad
February 02,2015

HASTE MAKES WASTE

By Arturo P. Garcia

What really went wrong with the Battle of Mamasapano, Maguindanao for the 5th Company, 5th SAF Batallion? Why were they decimated during the 11 hours battle on January 24, 2015?

What really went wrong during the raid? From A Muslim scholar, Norodin Alonto Lucman, gives good insights into why the President did not send in reinforcements after the SAF were pinned down. Another perspective for reading and you can decide if you agree with it or not.

Aside from Lucman, let us hear the words of Police General Talino, the current SAF Commander who made the eulogy at Camp Bagong Diwa, “ when the reinforcement from the army arrived at around 1;oo pm it was too late. Then, there were radio silence on the 5th Company 5th SAF Bn. Talino said, then I realized they were all gone.”

According to Lucman, “It’s a tactical decision not to reinforce. This will create a firestorm from Lanao to Sulu. Other army and Marine battalions are tied up in other regions. Calling on other AFP assets to reinforce the commandos would leave a gaping security hole where cities, towns and villages in Central Mindanao can be attacked simultaneously by regular MILF forces.

There is no guarantee that reinforcements could reach their target location. Blocking forces will delay their movement and more soldiers will be sacrificed. Is there a guarantee that Manila will not be subject to bombings as well?.

The operation is super secret. Therefore, all aspects of assault and extraction are analyzed and studied carefully within the group. It’s a need to know basis.”

What is revealing to all military men was the analysis of the killing zone or the battlefield provided how the SAF became a sitting ducks on January 24, 2014 in Mamasapano. Maguindanao.

” Since the target is mobile, there is no way they could train as to what terrain to
expect, houses and structures to cover, sort of weaponry needed to position to block possible enemy reinforcements, estimate of enemy troop strength, etc. Since it’s a pre dawn attack, they should expect other elements to react to gunfire.

At that moment, because of time constraints, they depended on info from Cafgus for entry into the target area, not knowing that its a trap going out. The Cafgus were the first casualties.They ended up in an open field where snipers using Barret 50 cal rifles, M14s and improvised Garand sniper rifles. could pick them one by one.

Assuming they survive being hit in the field, there is a river to cross where killing zones are positioned. The guerillas are equipped with M60s. mortars and RPGs. There is simply no way out of that trap.

This explains why some of the soldiers have suffered gaping head wounds. They died instantly..In this type of operation, there is no possibility of reinforcements. Army commanders will not risk their men into a blind situation. They have to wait for daylight to make some sense into the terrain.”

Here is the analysis of the terrain, how the battle went on and how the target area became a trap and a ready made killing zone according to Norodin Alonto Lucman:

“As well trained commandos, they are supposed to hit the target and withdraw as soon as mission is accomplished. Instead, they ran into a gauntlet of firestorm from all sides In fact 30 men were surrounded and were spared, thanks to the efforts of the IMT, Joint CCCH committee and MILF ceasefire representatives.

In conclusion, Lucman said, “ it was a botched operation. In this type of surgical military operation, there is no room for human error. What would have happened if the rebels were neutralized? There are thousands of civilians living in that area.
They could have been massacred or used as shields.”

In the final conclusion it’s the command responsibility of the command who ordered the Mamasapano raid why it failed.

We can compare it to the Delta Force Raid on Iran in 1980. The mission ordered by then President Carter was to rescue the US hostages taken by Iran during the attack on the US Embassy in Teheran in late 1979.The Delta Force mission failed. All the things that will go wrong that day occurred.

The helicopters that should be used did not materialized. There was a desert storm when the Delta Force came. And a terrible accident happened when they were about to abort the mission. The helicopters collided. American lives were lost and were left behind. And everybody knew what happened. It became a big embarrassment to Carter and the worst, he lost the elections of 198o to Ronald Reagan.

We can say the Philippine authorities were in haste for another political capital- a big military victory. Thus President Aquino II was in Zamboanga, some wags said, ”because he was monitoring the operations that could score big for his political propaganda

Therefore they were in haste. Their objective was a quick victory but it turn it wasted 44 SAF lives in the altar of the President’s vanity.

During the eulogy, General Talino , the current commander of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) who replaced the sacked SAF Commander of the botched raid in Mamasapano justified the death of the 44 SAF commandoes with the success of the mission.

He asked a question that he himself answered: “Is the life of 44 SAF commandoes worth the life one terrorist. I say Yes, because more lives will be saved when we were able to neutralized the terrorist bomber.”

I agree from a standpoint of a military analyst. Well, maybe he is quoting from the Great Russian Marshall Joseph Stalin who said,” One enemy spy is worth an army division.”

He is a military man, He is mission oriented. Like the President who is also vision oriented. But let the axe fall and heaven fall where it may. They must first accept their responsibility.

That is the essence of command and command responsibility.

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EPCC NEWS
February 02,2015

Pursue the Peace Negotiations, Pass the Basic Bangsamoro Law, Now

Los Angeles—Filipino-American leaders unanimously stood for peace and the continuing peace process between the GPH and the MILF. We also support the resumption of the much stalled peace talks between the NDFP and the GPH

Dr. Leo Pandac of the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC), said, “he believes we will gain more with the peace process than fomenting war and scrapping the peace agreement we have worked for the last 40 years.

Make Peace, Not War

We will gain more with peace than war. I believe that the peace process will continue and the “misencounter” between the SAF and the MILF that became a stumbling block is only temporary and not long lasting.”

Knights of Rizal leader Rudy Ferran said, “ They maybe enemies in battle but we must let both sides grieved and honor their dead and wounded as well as condole with their families and friends,

We also salute their bravery and honor their sacrifices for what ever cause the fought and died for most especially for peace and understanding in our only one motherland.”

Pass the BBL Now and End the War in Mindanao

The Filipino_American leaders in Southern California were united in criticism of the the warmongers like former Presiden Joseph Estrada, Fidel Ramos and other tmilitarist in the AFP and the PNP and the traditional politicians who now acts like as “dogs of war” who are calling for all-out war against the MILF.

TALAKAYAN Moderator Arturo Garcia said, “ We call on the Philippine Congress to continue the discussion on the Basic Bangsa Moro Law (BBL)and work on the Framework Agreement.Must give peace a change and give solution to the 40 years of war and destruction in Mindanao. Let us work together for peace and prosperity and

To contact newfacla please call us at (213)484-1527 or email us at [email protected]

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ALLIANCE NEWS
January 31, 2015

Sincerest Condolence For All The Families and Friends of the Victims of the Battle Of Mamapasano, Maguindanao, January 24, 2015

Los Angeles—The Alliance Philippines, based in the United States convey its sincerest condolences to the families, relatives and friends all of the victims of the bloody battle of Mamapasano, Maguindanao last January 24, 2015.

We grieved with all the family, relatives and friends and commensurate with their terrible loss most especially to the 44 SAF police commandos, the 11 MILF troopers and civilians and all those who perished in that bloody “misencounter”.

They maybe enemies in battle but we must let both sides grieved and honor their dead and wounded as well as condole with their families and friends,
We also salute their bravery and honor their sacrifices for what ever cause the fought and died for most especially for peace and understanding in our only one motherland.

Pursue the Peace Negotiations, Stop the War

The Alliance stands for peace and the continuing peace process between the GPH and the MILF. We also support the resumption of the much stalled peace talks between the NDFP and the GPH

The Alliance believes we will gain more with the peace process than fomenting war and scrapping the peace agreement we have worked for the last 40 years.

We also sincerely believe that the peace process will continue and the “misencounter” that became a stumbling block is only temporary and not long lasting.

Pass the BBL Now!

We also call on the warmongers, the militarist in the AFP and the PNP and the traditional politicians who now acts as “dogs of war” to stop their saber-rattling and anti Muslim and anti-MILF hsyteria.

We call on the Philippine Congress to continue the discussion on the Basic Bangsa Moro Law (BBL)and work on the Framework Agreement,
Let us give peace a change and give solution to the 40 years of war and destruction in Mindanao. Let us work together for peace and prosperity and

let us not make the sacrifices of the 44 SAF be not in vain.
Let’s Give Peace a Chance!

To contact the Alliance please call us at (213)241-0995 or email us at [email protected]

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