Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Philippine Star
February 9, 2008 By James Mananghaya
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday debunked allegations that US troops took part in last Monday’s clash between government forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Maimbung, Sulu that left eight civilians dead.
In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said the operation was purely planned and executed by Filipino soldiers, particularly the Navy’s elite Special Warfare Group and the US-trained Light Reaction Battalion of the Army.
“There were reports that American forces were there during the encounter in Maimbung, Sulu. I deny that because it is not true. Those who conducted the operation were Filipino troops, all under Filipino commanders, planned by Filipinos, planned by the Joint Task Force Comet,” he said.
Esperon added that those who are making such claims could have some other interests or motives.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information chief, said in a separate interview that US forces in Sulu are limited to providing technical intelligence to the AFP.
“They are not engaged, and they could not participate in actual combat operations,” he said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is flying to Sulu today to meet with military commanders in the area and to personally look into the incident.
Teodoro’s executive assistant and spokesman, lawyer Nelson Victorino, said the visit is meant to show the people of Sulu, led by Gov. Sakur Tan, that he is taking the incident seriously.
The defense chief has also directed Esperon to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The AFP top brass earlier said the operation was a legitimate encounter.
Aside from the eight civilians, four Abu Sayyaf members and two soldiers were killed in the firefight, which took place in a mangrove area in Barangay Ipil, Maimbung town.
Five soldiers were reportedly wounded in the clash.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said there was hostile fire that killed the two soldiers.
This, as Commission on Human Rights regional director Jose Manuel Mamauag, disclosing their initial findings, claimed that there was no exchange of hostile fire.
--With Roel Pareño and John Unson
February 9, 2008 By James Mananghaya
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday debunked allegations that US troops took part in last Monday’s clash between government forces and suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Maimbung, Sulu that left eight civilians dead.
In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said the operation was purely planned and executed by Filipino soldiers, particularly the Navy’s elite Special Warfare Group and the US-trained Light Reaction Battalion of the Army.
“There were reports that American forces were there during the encounter in Maimbung, Sulu. I deny that because it is not true. Those who conducted the operation were Filipino troops, all under Filipino commanders, planned by Filipinos, planned by the Joint Task Force Comet,” he said.
Esperon added that those who are making such claims could have some other interests or motives.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information chief, said in a separate interview that US forces in Sulu are limited to providing technical intelligence to the AFP.
“They are not engaged, and they could not participate in actual combat operations,” he said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is flying to Sulu today to meet with military commanders in the area and to personally look into the incident.
Teodoro’s executive assistant and spokesman, lawyer Nelson Victorino, said the visit is meant to show the people of Sulu, led by Gov. Sakur Tan, that he is taking the incident seriously.
The defense chief has also directed Esperon to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The AFP top brass earlier said the operation was a legitimate encounter.
Aside from the eight civilians, four Abu Sayyaf members and two soldiers were killed in the firefight, which took place in a mangrove area in Barangay Ipil, Maimbung town.
Five soldiers were reportedly wounded in the clash.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said there was hostile fire that killed the two soldiers.
This, as Commission on Human Rights regional director Jose Manuel Mamauag, disclosing their initial findings, claimed that there was no exchange of hostile fire.
--With Roel Pareño and John Unson