AFP also probing Sulu indiscriminate firing, says Ibrado

MANILA, Philippines - American troops in the alleged indiscriminate firing at Jolo port Monday evening have been placed under investigation by their own unit for possible sanctions.

This was bared yesterday by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Victor Ibrado, who also said that a parallel investigation is also being conducted by the AFP.

“Our investigation is still ongoing,” Ibrado said, referring to the indiscriminate firing by US and local Marine troops towards a supposed undetermined number of Islamic militants who reportedly attacked them with a homemade explosive.

But Ibrado said it is too early to say what really happened on Monday evening.

On the US probe, he said that if there were indeed shortcomings and lapses on their troops, these would be immediately corrected by the US Forces.

“Kung may lapses sila, they will correct it at magkakaroon din siguro ng sanction ang mga tao nila. Pero sa ngayon di pa natin alam kung ano talaga ang nangyari,” Ibrado said.

It was also learned that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) Commission is also looking into the incident.

VFA Commission Undersecretary Edilberto Adan was in Jolo the other day to personally determine what happened.

Ibrado meanwhile, pointed out that it is already routine for military personnel whoever they may be to react to any kind of attack, including firing back at the attackers.

And in the case of the US and local troops, Ibrado said they were subjected to a bomb attack and as their military training calls, they have to fire back immediately.

“Normal yon. Parang ambush yon. Inambush ka, kailangan makapagpatutok ka rin kaagad. Kaya tinitingnan pa natin talaga ang nangyari kung tama ba ang naging reaction ng tropa,” the AFP chief said.

But he reiterated once threatened, soldiers must defend themselves.

“If they are threatened they can defend themselves. They can use their firearms to defend themselves,” Ibrado said.

The US troops were unloading supplies from their watercraft that docked at Jolo port Monday evening when Islamic militants lobbed improvised bomb towards their position.