AFP probing blunders in Mindoro operation

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will conduct an investigation to determine if the clearing operation held last Saturday in Oriental Mindoro, which claimed the lives of 11 soldiers, suffered from tactical blunders.

Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said they will ask the officers of the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion to explain the incident to determine if there were lapses in standard procedure.

“We will investigate to see if there are possible tactical blunders in the operation,” he said in an interview yesterday.

“We will have to investigate the incident. In fact, the Army headquarters led by Army chief (Lt.) Gen. (Delfin) Bangit will send an investigating body,” he added.

 “Perhaps the operation was not adequately supervised. Maybe it is due to the decision of the lieutenant to move during that period of time. That was too late for a movement. It was held 5:20 in the morning. It should have been done during nighttime,” he said in Filipino.

Detabali questioned why the troops had to conduct the operation as daylight approached, a time when they were very visible to the enemy.   

“During those times, they (soldiers) should be resting or just observing. When I was a ranger, we normally conduct the movements during nighttime,” he said. – Alexis Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano