The Senate Hearing on Mamasapano Massacre
Haplessly Exposed the Weaknesses of the PNP and the Military
To the Terroristic Elements that Freely Roam Around the Country
By Apolinario Villalobos
The senators wrongly thought that they are giving light to the Mamasapano massacre. Clearly, they lacked the guidelines, or if ever there were, they deviated from them, because some questions were leading to the confidential security matters. In their enthusiasm in asking questions, they forgot that there are still active operations for the capture of Usman and the “graduates” of his and the allegedly dead Marwan’s bomb-making trainings.
The senate should have only concentrated on establishing as to who called the shots that launched the unfortunate operation resulting to the death of the forty-four and wounding of other SAF commandos. They should not touch on the fine details on how the operation was done. The lack of coordination and severance of the chain of command can surface to establish the people responsible for the lapses without going to the fine details as to the kind of weapons and rounds of bullets used, movements of units, etc. Unfortunately, Napeῆas was even forced to divulge the details of how the SAF made plans for their operations which was uncalled for.
The Senate hearing has put the country into another delicate situation. I dread to think of what will happen next, after it has been known that the PNP is practically lacking in the necessary defensive and offensive equipment. What will happen now after the exposure of the military that can be made helpless by a simple “miscoordination”? Clearly, they lack thoroughness and resourcefulness. And add to those, their total dependence on a commercial communication facility that can be jammed – the cellphone!
Very clearly, it has been established that the bomb-making “factories” are in Mindanao and that the bomb makers who benefited from the training provided to them by the international terrorists are not roaming only around that southern island, but other parts of the country, especially, Manila. And with the allegation that the MILF is cuddling them in connivance with the BIFF and that both still have connection with international terrorists, is the country, especially Mindanao, still assured of peace as promised by the Bangsamoro Basic Law?
If the Senate would like to improve the coordinative relationship between the security agencies of the country, this should be done behind closed doors, as it involves confidential systematic operations. They should stop the hearing as soon as they have pinned down who called the shots in the launching of operation at Mamasapano. The MILF cannot be forced to accept the fact that it cuddles the terrorists, although, intelligence information has established that they are hiding within their “territory”. The MILF cannot even “touch” the BIFF, their breakaway group. With the strong stand of the MILF, the rest of the effort of the Senate will be futile.
In view of the Senate’s helplessness due to the blatant hand washing and finger-pointing, they better turn their attention to the Bangasamoro Basic Law, as the ball is in their hands, if it still deserves to be passed. Overall, the Senate hearing is doing an irresponsible process. But who would like to stop an opportunity for grandstanding, in view of the approaching 2016 election? Meanwhile, the MILF should thank Deles and Ferrer for speaking on its behalf, in the name of the half-cooked peace process….