Joy Adalia
In his televised speech before the public to address the Maguindanao clash, President Benigno Aquino admitted to talking with the Special Action Forces (SAF) commander before the commandos launched their anti-terrorist operation, reports Rappler.
Some 392 SAF commandos entered MILF bailiwick Mamasapano in Maguindanao to retrieve alleged Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli “Marwan” bin Hir and Abdul Basit Usman.
The operation had the go-signal of SAF director Getulio Napeñas and the president had knowledge that such would be done in Maguindanao. However, Aquino stressed how he repeatedly told the commander to coordinate with the army and alert other branches concerned [including the MILF].
In his speech, Aquino also emphasized that the operation is not a hastily conceived plan as this has been approved as far back as 2002 under his predecessor, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The object of the operation is to arrest Marwan and Usman.
The president claimed that Marwan perished in the firefight between the MILF and the SAF commandos but he is still waiting for confirmation and more details of the incident from the investigating body.
Did Aquino Give the Go-Signal for the Operation?
The question that quickly played in the minds of the listeners is whether the president gave the go-signal for the SAF commandos to strike the MILF bailiwick where Marwan was believed to be currently based. If this was the case, then the president could be directly responsible for the deaths of the elite forces.
However, the president neither admitted nor denied giving the go-signal, choosing the skirt the question instead.
‘Sir, can we proceed with the mission?’ I don’t think I was ever asked that question. Isn’t that a rhetorical question?
Other Gov’t Officials Not Informed about the Maguindanao Ops
Government officials are calling the Maguindanao ops as a “misencounter” – it was certainly a costly misencounter as it led to the death of 44 elite SAF commandos.
What surprised people is the fact that though Aquino claimed to having full knowledge of the Maguindanao ops, other officials were not informed about it until news of the elite forces’ death came out.
For example, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Philippine National Police (PNP) OIC Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina both claimed they had no knowledge about the operation. So, why was the president in the know? Perhaps because he is the commander in chief?
Now, the president also admitted to having spoken with suspended police chief Director General Alan Purisima about the matter, saying it was the disgraced police official who made him understand the situation and the operation. Did Purisima remain in the loop even while serving his suspension?
Also, despite the president supposedly in direct communication with Napeñas before the operation was launched, the SAF director was sacked immediately after the deadly operation.
Some sectors believe the president is merely trying to cover up for his officials as well as working hard to keep the peace process he has worked hard on for years. However, in light of recent events, a lot of people doubt there would ever be peace in Mindanao and that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) might never come into fruition.
There is still going to be a long way to go before peace could ever be achieved in Mindanao.
One thing is for sure: the president’s speech may have explained part of the operation but it also raised several new questions.
