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Militants want US envoy Goldberg expelled from PHL for alleged US role in Mamasapano


An alliance of militant organizations has called for the expulsion of United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg in light of reports that the US government was heavily involved in the planning and implementation of the Jan. 25 covert police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
 
In a statement issued Monday, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. accused the US government of “blatantly interven[ing]” in the Philippines’ domestic affairs in pursuit of high-profile terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.
 
Marwan and Usman were the targets of the anti-terror raid dubbed “Oplan Exodus” carried out by Special Action Force (SAF) commandos last month. The operation ended in the death of 44 SAF members after they clashed with rebels from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
 
“The US government blatantly intervened in domestic affairs, dictating on our local police force and short-circuiting the PNP’s own chain of command. The US, without regard for our national interest, sacrificed Filipino lives to get Marwan and Usman,” Reyes said.
 
“US ambassador Philip Goldberg should be expelled from the Philippines for the US role in Mamasapano,” he added. 
 
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report published Monday quoted a SAF source as saying that the US oversaw Oplan Exodus from start to finish. According to the source, the US government provided training, intelligence and funds for the operation to nab Marwan and Usman.
 
In particular, the US supposedly funded the training of SAF troopers at a Zamboanga resort and even bribed MILF informants to get nearer to Marwan, the source said.
 
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had put a $6 million bounty for Marwan’s capture while a $1 million reward was put out for Usman. The former is believed to have been killed in the Mamasapano police operation.
 
Reyes said the US’ involvement in Oplan Exodus explains the presence of drones in Mamasapano even prior to the conduct of the police operation.
 
“[T]he US FBI was already waiting for the tissue sample of Marwan in General Santos City ahead of every other Philippine agency. US drones were seen prior to and during the actual Mamasapano operation. Intelligence came from US assets in the MILF as well as from drone and GPS surveillance,” he said. 
 
According to Reyes, further proof of American intervention in Oplan Exodus was the revelation that a certain Allan Konz ran the operation from the SAF command post in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and that the SAF troopers reported directly to him.
 
The Inquirer report quoted the source as saying that Konz was the immediate supervisor of the 84th Company, the SAF Seaborne unit in Calarian, for Marwan’s intelligence packet. 

Public inquiry into US’ role
 
As more details of the US’ alleged involvement in Oplan Exodus surface, Bayan urged Congress to conduct a public inquiry into the Americans’ role in the Mamasapano police operation. 
 
“Congress should now conduct a public inquiry into the role of the US in Mamasapano. An executive session just won’t cut it. The public demands answers,” Reyes said.
 
For the militant group leader, among the questions that should be answered by the US government are: Who is Allan Konz and what was he doing in Shariff Aguak, why was the FBI the first to be notified and given tissue samples of Marwan ahead of other PH officials and agencies, and why was the SAF taking orders from a foreign government.
 
“What the US did in Mamasapano is unacceptable. They should be held accountable,” Reyes said. 

PNoy accountability
 
But while the US must be held accountable for its actions, Reyes said the public should also exact accountability from President Benigno Aquino III for allowing the Americans to be involved. 
 
“The Philippine president has shown gross subservience to US dictates, recently approving the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that expands US presence and involvement in the Philippines,” he said.
 
“President Aquino, for showing shameless puppetry and surrender of national sovereignty, should step down from office,” Reyes added. —Xianne Arcangel/KG, GMA News
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