EPCC NEWS
March 26, 2015

THE US ROLE IN COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

By Jerry Esguerra,
Bantay Pilipinas-USA

For Satur Ocampo, former Manila Times journalist, NDF Negotiator and CPP leader and Sonny Melencio as well as publisher Dante Ang, the US role and hidden hand in the Mamasapano raid is as clear as the bright sunshine.

For them, They (The Americans no matter what agency that took charge of the operations against Marwan and Basit ) planned, funded, and closely monitored the execution of “Oplan Exodus” carried out last Jan. 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) they had trained and equipped.

For the trio, “ The objective was to arrest or kill Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” and his alleged local bomb-making associate, Abdul Basit Usman. The US government had offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan and $2 million for Usman.”

For them, downplayed in media reports for almost two weeks, the American role has been confirmed by two recent disclosures:

1. A statement issued Wednesday by David Bowdich, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, saying the FBI had “a full partnership” with the PNP which he categorized as “one of the strongest [partnerships]in the world.” He added that the FBI would continue to work with the PNP “to identify, disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks.”

2. A detailed narration by an anonymous source, most probably a PNP official, to another daily, citing the specific places where the Americans drew up “Oplan Exodus” and where they trained the SAF 84th and 55th companies for the operation.

3. Notable among the disclosures was that the US operatives had taken measures to ensure that the surviving 34 members of the 84th SAC (Company) that raided

Marwan’s hideout (they lost 8 commandos) were safely extricated from further harm, but “did not do anything” to help the 36-man 55th SAC, the blocking force that was wiped out (save for one man) in a “mis-encounter” with the MILF fighters.

4. “We can’t take this anymore,” the anonymous source confessed after unburdening the load off his chest. “I hope my colleagues would get the justice they deserve.”

For this writer, these data confirmed my worst fear that the ‘command paralysis’ that plagued the SAF contingent, the 6th Army Division that came to reinforced the SAF, the Air Force and other AFP and PNP commands came from direct intervention of the “hidden force” behind President Aquino. • “

The command paralysis happened because of the Americans’ obsession to get Marwan, many SAF men died” was his damning conclusion. He pointed out that the Americans focused only on securing the 84th SAC “because (the latter) ha(d) what they want(ed) – Marwan’s tissue sample.”

5. Ocampo cited the following: “The Americans used a drone in monitoring the movements of the 84th SAC. “This is why even if the 84th SAC men were located deeper in the area, only a few were killed. But the 55th SAC lost all but one of its men because no help from the Americans arrived.”

Not disclosed was how the Americans secured the safe retreat of the 34 officers and men of the 84th SAC. Why didn’t they do the same for the 55th SAC? Did they sacrifice the blocking force because intervening in the “mis-encounter” could have imperiled the lives of Americans and exposed their direct involvement in the operation?

6. The AFP wasn’t informed of the operation because four previous operational plans, to which the military were privy, failed to get Marwan. Alleged reason: the operations were to have been in MILF-controlled areas and the AFP coordinated with the MILF (as required under protocols of the GPH-MILF ceasefire and peace agreements). “When the plans were implemented, Marwan escaped.”

7. The Americans used a secret facility inside or beside the La Vista del Mar Resort in Zamboanga City, reportedly owned by the family of Rep. Celso Lobregat. However, Lobregat claimed he didn’t know about the facility, which allegedly accommodated a big number of 84th SAC men.

Following are some quotations and factual information from the anonymous source who expressed fear for his life and those of “others” should he provide more details. He urged Congress to look deeper into the Mamasapano tragedy.

8. For barangay chair Joel New of Upper Calarian Village, who used to work at the resort, said it was really an SAF camp, where “they do tactical operations training and swimming, including speedboat operations…” The American trainers would also stay at La Vista, he said.

9. The training program was “no joke, especially for the 55th SAC,” the anonymous source observed, “All their equipment were funded by the Americans. When they go to Maguindanao, an American, a supervisor of the La Vista facility, goes with them. All the expenses were shouldered by the Americans.”

These disclosures can further be confirmed and followed up through an independent and impartial investigating body, which has yet to be constituted.
10. The big question is: Does President Aquino know about these covert activities of the Americans? If he doesn’t, it’s a big problem. If he does, how has he acted on them? The issue of his accountability to the nation comes to the fore.

Thus the command responsibility ends with Aquino as he admitted it in his latest nation wide address. But it begins with his “hidden masters” who were directing the destiny of this young republic ever since 1899 to the present.

The role of the US and its operatives in the Counter Insurgency operations against the so called”terrorists” is clear, defined and is being implemented by the puppet government of the Philippines

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