Marine general scores SAF, kin on Facebook for continuously crying for justice

A decorated Marine general who earned his spurs fighting separatist rebels in Mindanao criticized the PNP Special Action Force as well as the "grieving relatives" of the so-called SAF 44 for continuously pressing for justice for those who perished in the infamous Mamasapano incident in Maguindanao.   

Maj. Gen. Alexander Balutan, at present the inspector-general of the Philippine Navy, took a potshot at the elite police unit on his Facebook account.

Balutan, who commanded the 1st Marine Brigade in Central Mindanao at the height of the "all out war" offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the early 2000s, pointed out that in several significant battles that the Marines were involved in, many soldiers also lost their lives, yet they "did not complain, no cry for justice, fringe benefits nor blame anyone."

Balutan explained that he is making a comment in the light of scheduled reopening of the the Senate's inquiry on the Mamasapano incident where over 60 people including 44 policemen of the PNP-SAF on Wednesday.

"Four (4) significant battles; 1) The Fall of Camp Abubakar, Maguindanao, July 2000 2) The capture of Camp Belal, LDN, May 2000. 3) Assault in Camp Rajahmuda Complex, Pikit, North Cot, June 2003. 4) Controversial Nat'l Election in Lanao Del Sur May 2004. In all these battles, several marines/soldiers offered precious lives yet they did not complain, no cry for justice, fringe benefits nor blame anyone. We solemnly buried our dead heroes and consoled the many wounded, wiped our tears and fought again. For we know well the meaning of our sacred oath for sake of our Motherland," read his post appended on a photo album of his pictures purportedly while he was assigned in Mindanao.

Officials of the Philippine National Police and relatives of the SAF 44 could not be immediately reached for a comment as of posting time.

Chilling effect

ut Getulio Napeñas, the commander of the PNP-SAF at the time the infamous mission was launched in January 25, 2015, told GMA News Online said that the situation faced by the Marines in the incidents Balutan had mentioned were different from what his men faced in Mamasapano.

"Iba to eh. Fourty-four to eh," Napeñas said. "At may rason kung bakit sila namatay."

"Alam mo yung chilling effect sa sundalo, pag na-realize nila na ganun pala pag naiipit kami? Mamamatay lang kami," he added.

Napeñas was referring to an established fact that no reinforcements came to the rescue of the SAF troopers who were pinned down in a cornfield in Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town and were eventually overrun and eventually killed by groups of heavily armed men, including members of the MILF.

"Inexpect namin na tutulungan kami. Lalo na alam ng Presidente yung operation. Siyempre may pressure sakin, gagawin ko yun. Utos ng Pangulo eh. Pero ine-expect ko na tutulungan kami," Napeñas, who was sacked as PNP-SAF commander immediately after the incident, said.

Napeñas has since retired from the police service and is now running for senator under the opposition ticket.

Napeñas was also incensed at Balutan's statement about how they merely bury their dead and get up to fight again.

"Depende sa sitwasyon eh. Depende sa pagkamatay ng tao," Napeñas said. "Ililibing tapos lalaban na ulit? Ganun din naman kami eh."

He also questioned why Balutan was making comments against the Mamasapano incident in the first place.

"Retired na siya 'di ba? Retired na siya tapos nagcocomment siya. Tama ba na pag-aawayin niya yung mga organisasyon namin?" Napeñas said.

The directory posted in the Philippine Navy website however, indicated that Balutan is currently the naval inspector-general.

Public gripes

It is not the first time that Balutan turned to Facebook to publicly air his gripes.

At the height of "pork barrel" controversy in 2013, Balutan who was then chief of the 1st Marine Brigade, ranted that the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund was disheartening considering that many soldiers are risking their lives in battle.

“That should have been used to solve the lingering social issues leading to armed conflict. The deaths of these marine heroes are rendered useless. Nakapanlulumo ,” Balutan said.

As how his latest Facebook post went, Balutan also recalled the battles the Marines faced against the MILF

“Sa araw-araw ay nakikipagtitigan kami kay kamatayan,” the then brigadier general said.

“Many of us offered lives and sustained wounds while faithfully fulfill our sworn duty to defend the motherland,” he added.

Balutan is one of the awardees of the The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers in 2011.

In 2005, Balutan defied a Malacañang order prohibiting government and military officials from appearing before a Senate inquiry into the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 elections.

Balutan consequently faced court martial for disobeying his superiors but the charges were dismissed.

Both Napeñas and Balutan graduated from the PMA, the former isa member of Class 1982 while the latter is from Class 1983. —APG/JST, GMA News