AFP to check report SAF man got Army commanders drunk on eve of Mamasapano op

The Armed Forces on Monday said it would investigate Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's allegation that an unidentified Special Action Force officer took Army commanders drinking the night before Oplan Exodus, the January 25 mission in which 44 SAF police officers were killed.

"Totoo 'yung nilabas nila 'yung battalion commander ng 45th [Infantry Battalion] at saka 'yung [601st Infantry Brigade] brigade commander, si Col. [Melquiades] Feliciano... Nilabas. Inimbitahan nung isang SAF na mag-dinner," Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said in a State of the Nation with Jessica Soho report.



According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, that detail was revealed during a Senate executive session, so it could not be discussed in public.

Nevertheless, AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said, "Pinaiimbestigahan ko na and I'll try to find out kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari."

The AFP said there was nothing wrong with AFP officers and Philippine National Police officers dining together, since military and police units have to work together.

However, Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri did not know if the SAF officer had intended to get the military officers drunk to keep them out of the operation in Mamasapano.

"If that is true, then tanungin niyo kung sino 'yung nag-imbita. I think he can answer for that. Kung ano 'yung motive, I cannot speak for them. Kaya siguro mas maganda kung sila ang tanungin, kung sino 'yun. We must establish first kung sino nag-imbita," Iriberri said.

Meanwhile, C/Supt. Moro Lazo, who has been designated as the new SAF director, denied the allegation.

"Nagtanong ako sa mga... 'yung battalion commander natin, 'yung mga other officers involved. Wala silang alam na SAF officer na nag-treat sa mga Army officers the night before the operation."

Lazo added: "Alangan naman na magi-inom eh may ongoing, practically, operation na 'yan."

The mission in Mamasapano on Jan. 25 resulted in the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was one of the three targets of Oplan Exodus.

However, the SAF's 55th Special Action Company was trapped in a firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed groups. The SAF lost 44 troopers in the clash.

Dir. Getulio Napeñas, since relieved as SAF chief after the mission, said support from the Army's 6th Infantry Division — which includes the 45th Infantry Battalion and 601st Infantry Brigade — could have saved his men.

The military has said it could not send support immediately because there had been no prior coordination on the mission. — JDS/DVM/KG, GMA News