The Mysterious Mamasapano, Maguindanao Massacre

By: Joe Mauricio

 

The massacre in Mamasapano, Maguindanao (with 44 SAF soldiers confirmed dead and fallen as of deadline) is smelling like the Benghazi, Syria massacre incident that killed several U.S. Embassy personnel, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith last September 11, 2012 by the militia. The cover-up or the mishandling of that fateful event and Mamasapano has a similar rotten smell.

For the Philippines, it is a very regrettable and deplorable act that a country moving through a very crucial stage in Mindanao peace process was derailed again, and many lawmakers are begging for answers that may not be known for some time.

What’s puzzling is that there was a cessation of hostilities (ceasefire) on both sides, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The MILF must have had information that the PNP SAF were conducting an operation to capture known terrorists operating in the area, and these terrorists have a bounty of $5 million being offered by the American government.

Another puzzling thing was the PNP SAF (Philippine National Police Special Action Force, elite military group) were wearing the uniform of PNP that one can easily recognize as that of the government troops. The information (tip) received by the MILF was very detailed in giving them logistics to set up an ambush to massacre the PNP SAF personnel. How did the MILF get the confidential information? Was there a leak in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)?

So many issues need to be resolved here—as the MILF seems to be lacking control over the renegade groups that were blamed for the killing. Will the Senate investigation be able to act to the bottom of it all, or, some facts are too sensitive that they will never come to light?

While the Philippine Congress holds hearing in the Bangsamoro Law, other parallel moves are supposed to be taken, including steps for the decommissioning of the MILF armed groups.

At this point, the PNP SAF Massacre may have set back all these steps as to the investigation of both MILF leadership and the Philippine government.

 

Images taken at post-hostilities in Mamasapano that resulted to 44 Fallen Men.