REPOST: WHAT IF MAMASAPANO WAS A SUCCESS? By George Daniel Anos

PART I

It was in a spectacular grand fashion, described aptly by two words: "Blitzkrieg" and "Finesse." The day after its succesful execution had many calling January 25 a solemn and grand day in which the stern face of a proud Nation's leadership turns prestigiously around to deliver upon the international community a grave, equivocal and fierce message: NOT EVEN AN INCH OF PHILIPPINE SOIL WILL PROVIDE SANCTUARY TO TERRORISTS.

Mamasapano, one of the 36 municipalities of Maguindanao and part of the province's second district provided the setting, where elite cops belonging to the Seaborne Unit of the 84th PNP-SAF company backed by the 55th SAF company as blocking force cleanly extracted wanted terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir (who is also known by the nom-de-guerre Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman.

Marwan, a Malaysian national, was one of FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists and has a reward offered for his capture or informational whereabouts amounting to USD 5 million. Usman on the other hand was a suspect arrested on the aftermath of the bloody 2002 Fitmart Plaza bombing in Sarangani. After his escape six months later, he became the most wanted Muslim militant in the Philippines with a $1-million reward for his head offered by once again, the United States.

The bodies have already been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and confirmation of their identification are expected easily within the week as the brother of Marwan is already in police custody in the US for sometime (due to another terrorist act related case) and a close relative of Usman is ready to come forth, both of whom would readily provide samples for DNA comparison.

What made the operation dubbed "Oplan Exodus" staggering in its success is that there is zero casualty from the members of the Special Action Forces. It was said that the proceedings was so clandestine from conception to execution that reports filtering out from the Palace tells of an irate Secretary of Interior who left a meeting with the Commander-In-Chief fuming and in obvious distress that he was not in the loop. He was quoted by an aide of another secretary who refused to be named as saying: "Putanginang yan, eto ba ang tinatawag na chain of command? Asan ako sa chain? Nakasabit sa dulo?" (Son of a whore, is this what you call chain-of-command? Where am I in the chain? Hanging at the end?). However, recent interviews with other "supposed" parts of this chain provide a glimpse of an unfolding intrigue within the internal workings of the current administration's operational leadership. Mar Roxas may have walked out from the President but a reporter from the Times told that the only reaction he got from PNP Officer-in-Charge Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina was the shuffling of feet and a sudden interest in the templates on the ceiling when asked of the latter's role.
(to be continued....)

PART II

Local military officials were also said to have been kept in the dark and was only informed via a military communique that the two top persons of interest in their area are "officially neutralized" hours after the succesful extraction.

The huge gap in the seeming breakdown of the chain of command is further put into what might easily spiral into a scandalous fix, with reports that suspended PNP Chief Allan Purisima was greenlighted by the President to head the mission. The suspended Chief was said to have only coordinated with Director of Special Action Force (SAF) Police Director Getulio Napeñas in preparing the concept of operations (CONOPS), with the SAF head ordered to keep the "whole deal under wraps from Mar and Espina." This not only violated OIC-PNP Espina's issued Special Order No. 9851, dated December 16, 2014 directing all suspended PNP Officers who have cases to ‘cease and desist from performing the duties and functions of their respective offices during the pendency of the case until its termination,’ it also threw negative light on the authority of the President's appointment of an Officer-In-Charge meant to start sweeping up the Head Office of an institution beleaguered by graft cases against its suspended occupant.

The Palace is tightly mum however but it was said that the suspended PNP Chief has been ensconced with the President right after meeting the latter's arrival in Villamor Airbase from Zamboanga, where it is said the Commander-In-Chief personally watched the mission via a US drone flying above with real time feeds.

If proven true, massive repercussions, backlash and steaming pile-of-fuck-alls are expected to come the administration's way as two vital and high ranking officials of the Interior's National Police being bypassed unceremoniously without very clear grounds may be interpreted as troubling and feed rumours of political woes and infighting. It would ultimately cast doubt on the leadership of the President showing a cavalier attitude even in the face of such sensitive task ahead.

All these events however are for now relegated to the backseat as overwhelming and zealous praises are being heaped from all corners on the President and the SAF for the successful completion of the mission. A group calling itself the "Yellow Warriors" have opened a Facebook and Twitter page just three days ago. The Facebook page was already liked more than 36,000 times and it's twitter counterpart has already gained 58,000 as of this writing. Acclaims from various sectors of the society, both national and global are posted there with the hashtags LabanPNoy and SAFRising.
(To be continued...)

PART III

Amongst a few: 
"Speaker Feliciano Belmonte: This is an act that will go to the annals of our history as a turning point. We all know that there is a bill in progress in the house with regards to the Bangsamoro Basic Law which we hope to pass as this administrations legacy to the Nation's peace process with that long standing insurgency. We however do not believe that recent events will stymie its progress, rather it would show the MILF that the party they are agreeing to have a pact with is giving them a deal from a position of strength and would hopefully give them greater respect and a more balanced view of their bargaining stance with the government."

"European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux: We express great admiration to this government's dedication against global terrorism. No longer will Jihadist elements find succor in Philippine territories even in the areas where predominance of muslims leaning towards radicalism are situated. The EU applauds the government of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and extends our congratulations to him and the Special Action Forces."

"Malaysian Gen. Yaakub Samad, International Monitoring Team of MILF- Government ceasefire agreement head: We do not see anything wrong with what the government did and will closely coordinate with the MILF in preparing a Board of Inquiry as to how two terrorists found shelter amidst their ranks. We salute the President and the SAF members for this and the Government of Malaysia will continue to work in close coordination with the panel members of President Aquino's team."

"Philip S. Goldberg U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines: The US government has only full support and admiration to the Philippine government in their drive towards ridding the country of Islamic radicals that not only poses risks to their country but to the regional stability of Southeast Asia. We stand with the belief that the leadership of President Aquino would further provide the impetus in this region to the fight against this global scourge. To sum up, if you want to blow things up for your God and you wanna stay here: PNOY AND HIS BOYS ARE GONNA FUCK YOU UP REAL GOOD."

"Senator Antonio Trillanes: This just proves that when they made President Aquino, they busted the mold. Goes to show that he is indeed the son of his patriot father and mother. The silent stalk and swift ambush could only have come from his mind that has walked every inch of this scenario in his tireless computer war games sessions."

"Vice President Jejomar Binay: I admire the President's foresight, especially if there is truth in reports of the Interior Secretary's exclusion in all these. It proves that he is someone who can really look ahead and assess the lay of the land and know where the pitfalls lie in wait" he said, and with a chuckle followed up: "Alam nyo na, baka sumemplang ulit pag kasama si Mar."

The group is also said to be privy to the inside chatters within Malacanang and has posted that when PNoy declares February 02 as "National Laban Day," they would mobilize to wear yellow armbands with Laban clenched fist sign to parade on the streets to show their appreciation to PNoy and the SAF men. The clenched fist sign is redolent of the President's parents' fight against Martial Rule in the country.

HOWEVER, not all are ecstatic and optimistic on the aftermath of the neutralization of the two most wanted terrorists in the land. MILF spokesman Mohagher Iqbal insinuated in a press conference that this might bring about a wrongful message to the government's commitment to the peace process.
Senator Mirriam Santiago, considered a firebrand by many, was floored upon hearing of Purisima's involvement in this operation exclaiming: "How could a suspended official take charge of an operation such as this? This is utter insanity and I promise to get to the bottom of this."
(To be continued....)


PART IV (FINAL)

Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesman furiously exclaimed that there will be revenge against government elements for this transgression. "Marwan and Usman are more than our guests, they are our family already and we should have been there protecting them against such an event. But we can still make up by drawing blood for their blood. Ayun sa aming leader na si Ameril Umbra Kato, kulang pa ang apatnapu't apat na buhay kapalit ng buhay nitong dalawa. Humanda sila."

The SAF however has ambivalent feeling in view of informations that there could have been a breach of chain of command and distinct possibility of operational bungle due to lack of coordination. A SAF member who will not be named is quoted through a text message sent to this reporter: "If there was even an iota of operational mishandling, we would have ended up as numbers, bringing enormous grief to our comrades and loved ones. That could have easily been the case especially now that we are hearing from higher ups that our task was not coordinated with a proper chain of command. It was just fortunate that we have been drilled to act decisively and efficiently that Marwan and Usman were both taken out without them being able to alert the BIFF and the MILF 118th Command in the area. Pag nandun ka na sa position na yun kasi, wala ng debate sa isip mo kung huhulihin mo bang buhay o hindi. Sa equation dalawa lang kasi, kill or get killed. That is why we opted to take him out in a body bag. Buti na rin na subdue din namin agad yung asawa nya kaya di na nakapagingay na maaring maging dahilan para maalerto yung mga armadong grupo sa paligid. "

The gasp of surprise in these revelations preceded deeper exhales of gratitude for the other members of the group sent to take out the two men. As one summed up: "Buti na lang talaga walang breakdown of command and control sa lahat ng oras. Ganun na din at walang naging defective na equipments dahil well maintained talaga, maganda yung na feed sa aming intelligence at malinaw yung abort critera. Yun nga lang talagang masasabing kung ganun nga ang nangyari na di nasabihan sila Secretary Mar at si Sir Espina, na violate talaga yung protocol. Ang importante succesful yung operasyon at nakauwi kami ng buo ang katawan at humihinga sa aming pamilya."

Source: FB, repost with permission (June 2017)