MANILA, Philippines - Special Action Force (SAF) officer-in-charge Noli Taliño feels that the death of the 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Sunday “was worth it.”
Speaking at the necrological services for the slain commandos yesterday, an emotional Taliño told the grieving families that the operation in pursuit of two terrorist bombers was worth the lives lost.
“Is it worth it?” he asked.
“One international terrorist is equivalent to 44 SAF troopers I’m sure that if you will ask them [they will say] – It is worth it. More lives would be saved with Marwan gone and we believe our motto: Tagapagligtas (Savior),” he said.
Taliño said he felt guilty about the death of the 44 police commandos.
“I share the same feeling with General Napeñas about what happened… Our efforts were not enough to extend the help that they [needed],” he said, referring to relieved SAF chief Getulio Napeñas.
Taliño said the situation was tense during the unholy hours of Sunday as commandos approached the lair of Marwan, whom they had nicknamed “Mike One.”
“During that fateful day when Oplan Exodus was launched against Jemaah Islamiyah international terrorist named Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan – and we call him Mike One – the main effort One, composed of the members of the 84th SAC, or the Special Action Company, seaborne, sneaked into their target unnoticed,” he said.
“Everybody at the TCP or Tactical Command Post was so tense until such time that we received a text message from the operating troops stating ‘Mike One, bingo.’ A joyful moment was felt knowing that the mission was accomplished.
“During the extraction of troops at dawn, the commandos noticed that their enemies from a distance were gathering and establishing positions.”
Taliño said Senior Inspector Ryan Pabalinas radioed the information to them and repeatedly asked for reinforcements as the enemy increased in number.
Napeñas and his staff thought of ways to extract their men, Taliño said, adding Pabalinas was asking for reinforcement as early as 7 in the morning, but that reinforcements could not get in because the 55th SAC was practically surrounded.
“We did send the reinforcements from different approaches, but could not penetrate the bulk of the enemies until about 1 p.m., when that voice was nowhere to be heard,” he said.
“There was radio silence, very long silence. After the battle, I realized that that voice will never be heard again. And I know that voice belonged to Ryan…
“I felt guilty, and I’m sure we have the same feeling with Gen. Napeñas about what happened, and it seems our efforts are not enough to extend the help that they have asked for, but we did our best.” Talino said he hopes that Napeñas would be reinstated as SAF commanding general after the investigation.
“Gen. Napeñas is a good man, he’s a good leader,” he said. “We thank him for giving SAF the much-needed leadership. I hope everything would be alright and he would return.”
Taliño was deputy to Napeñas, the reported ground commander when SAF commandos assaulted Mamasapano.
He replaced Napeñas after a body was formed to investigate why and how the men were killed.
Correction
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina did not say that he had no trust in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as published in The STAR yesterday.
It was Napeñas who said it, lamenting the loss of his men.
The policemen who survived last Sunday’s attacks in Mamasapasano will be transferred to the PNP General Hospital for further treatment.
Sources said the policemen will have the opportunity to talk with President Aquino about their concerns.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. confirmed the survivors will be taken to the PNP hospital but the doctors advised against allowing the media to interview them, considering their condition.
Masses, prayers
In Southern Mindanao, policemen held masses and prayers in different parts of the region to mourn the deaths of the 44 SAF commandos.
Southern Mindanao police director Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario led the ceremonies and prayers.
He led the lighting of candles and in prayer for the commandos at Camp Mericido along Diversion Road.
Davao City police officers also held prayer and candle-lighting ceremonies yesterday as part of the the National Day of Mourning.
Davao City officials wore black shirts yesterday to express their sympathy for the slain commandos.
In General Santos City, all flags in government institutions were flown at half-mast.
City hall employees also wore black in sympathy with the slain commandos
‘Suspend peace process’
SAF commandos stationed in Iloilo have called for the suspension of the peace process with the MILF as long as justice has not been given to their comrades massacred in Mamasapano.
Inspector Andan Calib of the at 63rd Special Action Company based in Barangay Alibunan, Calinog, Iloilo, said the perpetrators must surrender to the government and that somebody must answer for the killing of their comrades.
“The lives of our comrades were wasted,” he said. “We have a body that investigates what happened. We will just wait for the result of the investigation.”
Calib was one of scores of SAF commandos that participated in yesterday’s National Day of Mourning at the Iloilo Police Provincial Office in Camp Sumagaysay, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo City.
Calib lost his friend and SAF training classmate, Inspector Rennie Tayrus, in the botched operation.
Calib and Tayrus, both from Zamboanga del Sur, entered the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in May 2007.
Tayrus kept to himself his plan to join SAF, he added.
Calib said they were told on Sunday night that Tayrus was safe.
“But the following morning, we confirmed that he died fighting,” he said.
Senior Inspector Rengie Deimos, 63rd SAF Company commander, lost three classmates from the PNPA “Kaisang Bisig” Class of 2009: Senior Inspectors John Garry Erana, Maxx Jim Tria and Gednat Tabdi.
Colleagues of the 44 slain Special SAF commandos have high esteem for their fallen comrades.
Speaking at the necrological services at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig yesterday, SAF Chief Inspector Victor Lacwasan and Col. Danilo Pamonag of Armed Forces Special Operations Command described the fallen commandos as heroes who helped others even beyond their duties.
Lacwasan said many Filipinos might not have full knowledge about the SAF.
“Our members have been fighting their all for the safety of the public,” he said.
“SAF has long been here. You might not know that such a unit exists. It has not been in the news.
“They are our new heroes: those lying in state in front of us, including the wounded who have survived.”
Pamonag said his unit has worked with some of the slain commandos in some missions, including the Zamboanga City siege, where two of their comrades were killed. – With Non Alquitran, Edith Regalado, Jennifer Rendon, Cecille Suerte Felipe