Philippine military chief admits lack of coordination during Mamasapano clash

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - There was lack of coordination and planning between the military forces and the leadership of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) during the violent clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said today.

General Gregorio Pio Catapang, chief-of-staff of the AFP, told members of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that they were only informed "when they were already being engaged by the enemy."

"Before that (actual operation), there was no coordination. There was lack of coordination because coordination will take a while... there was lack of planning... let's say now you want to go to war, you have to plan for days, even weeks, before you go to war because everything will be coordinated," said Catapang.

He said that the area where the fire fight between elite SAF commandos and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's 105th Base Command happened, in Barangay Libutan in the town of Mamasapano, is very close to the place where the military troops were positioned.

"The coordination came in too little, too late. The information (was) given to us (when) they were already there and the fire fight already started," said the AFP chief.

The military official said that government troops were already in Barangay Libutan as early as 5:30 a.m. of Jan. 25 and they could have been able to help extricate the embattled SAF troopers on the ground.

"Up to 11:30 in the evening we were there with them, helping ensure that they're extricated from that difficult situation," Catapang said.

Catapang assured the lawmakers and the public of their full cooperation in the ongoing probe.

"All of these will be made available to public. We know for a fact that the truth must be learned and known by the people."

Meanwhile, the ad hoc committee for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law has submitted inquiry letters to the leaders of the military, police force, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as well as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to shed some light on what really happened on Jan. 25 that led to the death of 49 SAF troopers.