The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday
announced that it is not at liberty to discuss details of the report which
claimed that ranking military officials were invited to a night out by Special
Action Force officers on the eve of the bloody Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash
last Jan. 25.
"We could not discuss the details of this report
because it was privileged information for those who were present in the Senate
Executive Session," AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold
Cabunoc said.
He also said that soldiers can attend social gatherings
especially events organized by its security partners like the Philippine
National Police.
"We can allow soldiers to drink when not on duty and
during 'happy hour' events as part of our morale and welfare program in the
units," Cabunoc pointed out.
Forty-four SAF men were killed in the operation that
neutralized Malaysian terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir alias Marwan last Jan. 25.
Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that 45th
Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Romeo Bautista and 601st Infantry Brigade
commanding officer Col. Melquides Feliciano were invited by ranking SAF
officers to a night-out.
He added that this effort by the SAF seems to make it appear
that the police commandos wanted to carry out the raid alone without military
intervention.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=747332
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