Troops unable to check firearms, equipment gathered after extricating SAF in Mamasapano

Army troops sent to help the PNP Special Action Force in the January 25 Mamasapano clash were not able to conduct an inventory of firearms and equipment that they turned over to the elite police unit after their extraction from the clash site, a military officer said Wednesday.

 

At the resumption of the House of Representatives' hearing on the Mamasapano incident, 2nd Lt. Gabriel Bannoya Jr. of the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) was asked by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano about a claim by a SAF officer regarding a firearm that eventually ended up with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

 

"May baril na kine-claim ang isang SAF na binigay sa Army, na it turned out to be one turned in by [the] MILF. Binalik ba sa inyo?"

 

Bannoya turned the question over to 2nd Lt. Jeymark Mateo, platoon leader of the 61st DRC, who narrated the last part of how they extricated the troops.

 

Mateo said they no longer checked the firearms and equipment they gathered during the process since everything happened fast.

 

He pointed out that two to four people would carry one SAF officer, while those injured had to be carried above the military officers' heads so their wounds wouldn't be infected as they crossed the river to reach the road.

 

"Nu'ng dumating na kami sa may kalsada, tinurn-over namin 'yung baril at gamit. Pero wala na kaming ginawang imbentaryo dahil mabilis ang pangyayari. 5:45 a.m. na po 'yun," he said.

 

He added, "Nu'ng okay na 'yun, nabigay na namin ang baril, lahat... Past 6 [a.m.], nagkaroon ng putukan sa pinanggalingan namin. Buti nakalabas kami sa area bago nagkaroon ng putukan ulit."

 

The MILF turned over 16 firearms of the slain SAF troopers, including two machine guns, to the military last February 18. 

 

The elite police had lost about 63 firearms during the Mamasapano operation, which was followed by a bloody encounter that led to the deaths of 66 people, including 44 SAF officers, 17 members of the MILF, and five civilians. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News