New group to probe 'friendly fire' death of six elite troopers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - A bigger investigating body has been created to re-investigate the alleged “friendly fire” that killed six  members of the elite military’s special forces in Sulu last month, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Pio Catapang Jr. said Saturday.

Catapang disclosed their reinvestigation of the case during his visit Saturday at the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) as part of his first visit to the troops on the ground after his appointment last month as AFP chief.

Catapang was referring to the incident last June 19 when at least six members of the elite special forces under the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) were killed when they were allegedly hit by  a “friendly fire”  that  came from a 15mm Howitzer round supposedly fired as support for engaged troops against the Abu Sayyaf group in the mountains of Patikul town.

Reports on the ground disclosed that prior to the incident, members of JSOG were deployed to reinforce the Marine Force Recon who were waylaid by the Abu Sayyaf group while conducting rescue operation in the mountain of Patikul early morning of June 19.

In the initial attack a junior marine officer 1Lt. Roger Flores was killed and a number of his men were wounded prompting the ground troops to seek fire support.

The reports disclosed that fire support was called and rounds of 105mm howitzers hit the forward position of the JSOG team that killed the six elite troopers and wounded several others.

The Westmincom initially submitted  a report to the Board of Inquiry, but some sectors of the army were not satisfied with the report, according to an official.

“We have created a new committee (to investigate the incident) so that there will be no bias,” Catapang said.

The new committee is composed of Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and  Philippine Navy and headed by a task force to avoid biases in the investigation, Catapang said.

“Of course (those involved in the incident will be answerable) if the report finds any offense,” Catapang said, adding that they will file corresponding charges if necessary. - Roel Pareño