Philippines: The Forty-four Elite Commandos who Fell in Mindanao

Philippines: Friday, January 30, was declared a National Day of Mourning for the forty-four elite Special Armed Force commandos who went to Mindanao to arrest two high target terrorists: Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan,and Abdul Basit Usman, both explosives experts. The US FBI has a $5 million bounty for Marwan, a member of Al Qaeda's Asian cell. Usman, who reportedly trained in explosives in Pakistan and Afganistan, has a $1 million bounty.



Around 400 Commandos participated in the covert operation in Mamasapono, Mindanao, territory occupied by the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and the renegade BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters). The Elite Force entered a barangay (village) and had a shootout wherein Marwan was most likely killed (the Commandos cut off a finger for DNA testing and took a picture of the man believed to be Marwan). Usman escaped. Among other crimes, Marwan is a suspect for the 2002 Bali bombing. He was also reportedly involved in a plan to assassinate Pope Francis during his recent visit to the Philippines (a storm that hit Leyte cut short the Pope's visit and botched that plan).

What followed was an 11-hour battle between the Elite Force and both BIFF and MILF, wherein forty-four members of the Elite Force were killed.  Some bodies were reportedly mutilated. Their weapons, night vision googles, and personal effects were stolen from them.

The massacre derailed the proposed Bangsamoro Law that would have allowed self-governance and promote peace in conflict-ridden Muslim Philippines There is a lot of finger-pointing as to who to blame for the botched operation. Meantime, people are palpably angry. Some people say that what happened was an outright ambush, and that the MILF, who had signed a March peace agreement with the Philippine government, did not live up to that agreement. Some claim that the Americans had something to do with the operation, and their dead not counted with the Fallen Forty. Some say President Aquino had been in Zamboanga when the operation took place. Many are angry at the President for his seeming lack of sympathy. Even the use of the word "misencounter" a government euphemism to tone down the battle that took place, sends many into a rage.

I ran into Dr. Jobers Bersales of the University of San Carlos, at the prayer rally for the Fallen Forty. Dr. Bersales who comes from Mindanao, felt the loss of the elite Commandos. He said the situation in Mindano has deteriorated to the point where civilians need to arm themselves to protect themselves from the militants. (His family members keep armalites and grenades in their homes.) He said the war in Mindanao that has been going on since the 1970s is not a religious war but a territorial conflict. He said the problem in Mindanao is cyclical: the government makes a pact with the militant group, but eventually, a splinter group comes along to continue the terrorism.

Investigations about the botched operation in Mindanao are going on; some are pitching for the proposed Bangsamoro law to continue; others question making a deal with people who harbored the two high target terrorists; all are concerned.

Photos courtesy of Louella Alix and Jobers Bersales

Read also
ISIL recruiting in Mindanao
Australian Jihadist and Filipina girlfriend arrested in Cebu

Tags: Philippines, Mindanao, Muslim, Marwan, Usman, terrorists, militants, massacre, Mamasapono, SAF, MILF, BIFF, Filipino, elite force, police, terrorism, Al Qaeda, Bali bombing, #Fallen44, #SAF44

This is all for now,
Cecilia