Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General
Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., has expressed dismay over reports blaming the army
for the sad plight of the 44 fallen members of the Philippine National
Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).
Recent reports that came out from the Senate investigations
into the fate of the 44 PNP-SAF troopers have tended to lay the blame for the
high death casualties in the Mamasapano incident with Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on the failure of
the army to come to the aid of the beleaguered police operatives.
In fact, even relieved PNP-SAF Chief Director Getulio
Napeñas had claimed in his affidavit submitted to the Board of Inquiry (BOI)
that the absence of artillery support has contributed to the high death toll.
In a recent command conference held at the Philippine Army’s
7th Infantry (“Kaugnay”) Division based at Fort Magsaysay
He said the army troops snatched from sure death the lives
of 11 SAF members who were injured after they engaged unfriendly forces during
said encounter while 17 other SAF troopers were evacuated from the combat area
and into safe grounds.
In all, he said the 28 SAF commandos are alive to tell their
story of the gallant stand taken by the combined forces of army and police.
Catapang, has, however downplayed the lack of proper
appreciation and regard for their contribution in extricating the 28 SAF
troopers from the field of conflict by saying that this is part of the risk of
their profession.
In this regard, he exhorted his men to do their job in the
best professional manner in the service of the people and the Republic.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=737719
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.