Over 300 SAF commandos did nothing while clash was ongoing –soldier

From the GMA News (Feb 18): Over 300 SAF commandos did nothing while clash was ongoing –soldier

Over 300 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were on the highway doing nothing while not far from them some of their comrades were engaged in a fierce firefight with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January 25, a soldier interviewed by GMA News said.

The soldier was under the Army's 6th Infantry Battalion who was part of the team that reinforced the embattled SAF members on the afternoon of January 25.

“Kung may sisisihin man sila, tanungin muna nila sa leader nila kung sino 'yung hindi nakatulong doon, kung sino 'yung hindi fumorward doon. Kasi 'yung naabutan namin sa kalsada kadami-dami na doon tatlong kompanya nag-uumpukan,” the soldier said.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 392 SAF commandos were part of the operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, but only 74 clashed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The 74 included the 38 who stormed Marwan's hideout and eventually killed him, and the 36 who served as blocking force.
[Video report]

When the fighting stopped after several hours, over 60 people, including 44 SAF policemen, lay dead.

The military has been at the receiving end of blame for the high number of fatalities on the government side for their supposed late reinforcement.

This did not sit well with the soldiers interviewed by GMA News, with one of them pointing out the number of SAF members who were doing nothing on the highway while the clash was ongoing.

The soldier said when they arrived at the area on the afternoon of January 25 to reinforce the police force, they found several SAF members lying on the side of the street looking shocked.

“Binibiro ko sila, 'Bakit kayo di makatulong, de kalibre 'yung mga gamit niyo, bakit di niyo magawang tulungan 'yung mga kasama niyo?' May vest pa sila,” he said, adding he was met with silence.

Another soldier highlighted the key role they played during the operation.

“Sasabihin nila walang ginawa 'yung Army. Kung hindi dahil sa amin hindi nila mase-save 'yung nakuha nilang speciman mula sa target nila. E di sana hindi sila mission accomplished,” he said.

He was referring to Marwan's finger, which was cut off for DNA analysis in the United States.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesman C/Supt. Generoso Cerbo, Jr. said everyone should just wait for the results of the investigation being conducted by the PNP's Board of Inquiry.

“Hindi naman natin maaalis na magkaroon ng ganyang sentimento 'yung ibang kapatid natin sa AFP. Siguro with the passage of time mako-correct naman natin ito at mapa-patch up natin,” Cerbo said.

He added that the relationship between the police and military remains strong despite what happened in Mamasapano.

“Ang AFP at PNP mayroong mahabang pinagsamahan. And even as we speak mayroon tayong strong collaboration with AFP units,” Cerbo said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/440443/news/nation/over-300-saf-commandos-did-nothing-while-clash-was-ongoing-soldier