No US involvement in Mamasapano ops; 'twas '100-percent Filipino' - DFA

From InterAksyon (Feb 23): No US involvement in Mamasapano ops; 'twas '100-percent Filipino' - DFA

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg told the Department of Foreign Affairs that it was not involved in the Mamasapano operations, which was “100 percent Filipino,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia told the Senate hearing on the Jan. 25 incident where it was reported that the United States was involved, even as it took the finger of suspected international terrorist alias Marwan for DNA verification.

“We have checked with the US ambassador and he said there is no US involvement. We have ascertained (through meetings with our counterparts) that the planning and execution of the operations were 100 percent Filipino,” he said.

The United States, as with other countries that have security cooperation agreements with the Philippines, engage in non-traditional security activities including counter-terrorism.

The only constitutional restriction is to not engage in combat operations, he said.
Planning, monitoring, and exchange of information are acceptable forms of engagement.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/105613/no-us-involvement-in-mamasapano-ops-twas-100-percent-filipino---dfa