PNP adopts some BOI findings

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will adopt some recommendations from its Board of Inquiry (BOI) in an effort to improve police service.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said
the police leadership has started looking into recommendations from the BOI to determine which could be immediately implemented to ensure that there would be no repeat of the bloody clash in Mamasapano.

Aside from the enhancement of the capabilities of the Special Action Force (SAF) and other police units, the BOI – headed by Director Benjamin Magalong – recommended a review of the police supply management system.

“The capabilities of SAF and other PNP maneuver units for move, shoot, protect, communicate and close air support should be enhanced,” the report read.

The BOI noted that SAF commandos were using two brands of radios – Harris Tactical (HT) and the Motorola Ultra High Frequency (MUHF) – during the operation to arrest bomb makers Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The HT radios proved to be highly reliable under adverse conditions, while the MUHF, commonly used by police units in urban areas, were constantly malfunctioning because they were not designed for military-type operations.

The BOI said radios used by the elite force were useless after being soaked in water, as the commandos waded and crossed the river to reach Marwan’s hideout. Batteries of the MUHF radios were also found good for only a few hours as they easily get discharged due to wear and tear.

“As back-up communication, the troops used their cell phones which were relatively unreliable because of erratic (mobile network) signal,” the report added. “This breakdown in communication impacted command and control in the battlefield.”

The BOI also noted that SAF is among the most highly equipped police units in terms of equipment and firepower. But firepower is only as good as its shooter and ammunition.

“The lone survivor of the 55th SAF Special Action Company reported that several rounds of his M203 grenade launcher were duds,” the BOI added.

The STAR learned that surviving SAF commandos had complained that eight of 10 M203 grenades failed to explode during their operation, giving Moro rebels the opportunity to attack.