Going to the dougie +

So, i'm going to dance this ;)

REPOST : Why the fiasco in Basilan

*** Hmmm, the plot has thickened.
--------------
by Move.PH on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 7:25am
Maria A. Ressa,
Author-in-Residence & Senior Fellow
International Centre for Political Violence & Terrorism Research, RSIS

(To share or comment on this story, visit or 'like' www.facebook.com/Move.PH. Also follow @MovePH on Twitter.)

MANILA, Philippines -- How could good men with good intentions go so horribly wrong?  You’ve seen my summary of what actually went wrong.  This is my attempt to figure out WHY it did.  Keep in mind that just because the October 18 operation in Basilan was inept (and led to the deaths of 19 soldiers in Al-Barka) doesn’t mean the individual soldiers are inept.

Two officers have been relieved: Lt. Col. Leo Pena, 4th Special Forces Battalion Commander, and Col. Alexander Macario, head of the Special Operations Team-Basilan (SOTF-B).  Speaking with high-ranking officers familiar with the case, one more officer, they say, should have been questioned – if not relieved - as well: Col. Alminkadra Undug, Army Special Forces Regiment Commander based in Zamboanga.  He is Pena’s immediate superior in the Special Forces chain of command and the man whom sources say gave Pena the target intelligence package for the operation.  Col. Undug handled MIG9 (the Military Intelligence Group) in Zamboanga and was implicated in the Hello, Garci scandal.

Col. Macario is outspoken about being bypassed.  When Lt. Col. Pena told him about the operations, troops had already been deployed.  “Wala akong operational lapses,” Macario told me.  Yet, 19 men died so he did what he felt was honorable and volunteered for court martial.  The only man aside from him who had the authority to mobilize the operation is Col. Undug, who allegedly bypassed the area commander.  I could not reach Col. Undug for comment.

This is part of the reason sources say Pena had the courage to “just fyi” Macario, and why Macario allowed the operation to continue.  Both Army Chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz and Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin are Special Forces.

There are at least three other underlying complications that may offer additional insights:

A new paradigm in military processes and operations

An unspoken rivalry between the Scout Rangers and the Special Forces

The PMA culture of “Take Life”

Special Operations Task Force-Basilan (SOTF-B) is less than a year old.  When I visited Basilan several months ago, Macario was moving quickly on operations.  He has been effective – leading 22 successful combat operations in 7 months. 

His team is an experiment that may be partly based on a US model.  US operations in the Philippines are carried out by the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P).

Part of the reasoning behind the change was the observation that conventional territorial forces were easily tracked and “made too much noise” which alerted their enemies who were more agile and mobile.

It also, however, meant a new command process that - as October 18 proved – had not been fully tested.

Secondly, some soldiers spoke about a rivalry beneath the surface – between the Scout Rangers and the Special Forces which made up Macario’s team.  The Rangers were chosen to lead the 22 successful operations.  Macario is a Ranger with Special Forces training.  Some SF soldiers said they thought he was partial to the Rangers. He told them: “I don’t want you to die in Basilan.  You are not yet operationally capable.” 

This is the first time the 4th Special Forces Battalion acted as territorial forces - part of the reason why they underestimated both the terrain and their enemy, according to a classified investigation report titled “Encounter in Basilan” written on October 20.

Finally, numerous sources spoke about a culture that celebrates courage, a practice they called “take life” – part of officers’ training and culture going back to the Philippine Military Academy.  “Take Life” means having the courage to jump in and take the consequences.  At least two officers cautioned Pena about the dangers of his plan, but he overruled them, allegedly saying “take life.”

I am not a conspiracy theorist; I prefer Occam’s Razor: “the simplest answer is often correct.”  I only offer some possible strands of reasoning which explain why the fiasco in Basilan happened.

REPOST: Fiasco in Basilan

by Move.PH on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:44pm

By Maria A. Ressa

(To share or comment on this story, visit or 'like' www.facebook.com/Move.PH. Also follow @MovePH on Twitter.)

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino faced a dilemma last week after the deaths of 19 soldiers in Al-Barka, Basilan.  Despite the public outcry and mourning, he resisted numerous calls to declare war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and break a ceasefire that’s been in place since 2008.  Instead, he decided to hold the military accountable.  He also chose not to tell the public about the numerous mistakes that led to the tragic deaths.

Results of a classified military investigation paint a picture of incompetence that seems hard to believe.  There are conflicting statements from military officers regarding the purpose of the mission: a high-ranking officer said the troops were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest against the Abu Sayyaf’s Long Malat Solaiman.  Army spokesmen, however, publicly stated their goal was to serve a warrant of arrest against the MILF’s Commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who was involved in the beheadings of soldiers in 2007.  However, these statements do not explain why soldiers are doing a police function.

According to a classified report, details of which were confirmed by military officers familiar with the investigation, the battle between the military and the Abu Sayyaf began less than 2 km. away from a designated safe zone called the Area of Temporary Stay (ATS) of the MILF’s 114th Base Command.  The battle lasted 10 hours and moved 4.3 km away from the ATS, disproving the MILF’s claims that soldiers violated the ceasefire rules.

In the first two hours, the report said the troops “were in control of the situation” until reinforcements from “the MILF ATS, MNLF community and ASG stronghold” arrived on motorcycles.

It deteriorated rapidly from that point on because of several fatal mistakes:

1.     The operations were “planned unilaterally” by Lt. Col. Leo Pena, commander of the 4th Special Forces Batallion.  According to another classified document, there was “little coordination” with the 13th & 19th Special Forces Commands as well as the students of Scuba Class Nr 42.  The planning also bypassed the area commander, a serious breach of protocol.  This is important because it meant troops who may have helped in the battle were unprepared.  Sources say Pena is a bright, ambitious young officer.

2.    This is the first time many of these soldiers fought in Basilan, most of whom had no combat experience.  It was positioned as a training exercise for the students of Scuba Class Nr 42.  This is also the first time the 4th Special Forces Batallion fought as a territorial unit.

This partly explains why the troops underestimated their enemy.  They were unaware of two common practices Basilan veterans would have anticipated.  The first is “Pasa Bilis” – the area’s quick information dissemination.  As soldiers move, members of the community sympathetic to the Abu Sayyaf and the MILF text their location and other information.  The second is known as “Pintakasi” – when civilians join the fight against a common enemy - the military.  One intelligence source said, “this is our version of Black Hawk Down.”

3.    After “more than 8 hours of continuous fighting,” 4 of the 6 officers were killed.  Most of the remaining soldiers were young and inexperienced, with the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

4.    The 9th Field Artillery Battalion “responded late and failed to hit the target” while air support “arrived almost six hours late.”

5.    The soldiers had no help.  No reinforcements arrived.  During the planning, members of the 13th Special Forces Command asked for more troops, but it was denied “because of the nature of the operation that is Special Reconnaissance Direct Action (SRDA) Exercise through water infiltration.”

The classified report concluded that “SRDA type of operation is not suitable” for Basilan’s terrain and enemy conditions, and that “the exercises should have been done in a controlled situation.”

This is the 6th battle between the military and the Abu Sayyaf/MILF in Al-Barka since January 2011.

The report concludes “there is strong indication that Al-Barka residents are peripheral members of the rebels, as seen from the quick reinforcements of rebel support at the encounter sites.”

So who is to blame?

Lt. Col. Leo Pena, the young officer who pushed and planned the operation, was relieved of his command, but senior military officers say he couldn’t have acted on his own.

The head of Special Operations Task Force-Basilan (SOTF-B), Col. Alexander Macario claims he was bypassed in the planning although he was “informed of the operations after troops were already prepositioned in the rear.”  He said in a phone interview that Pena “was under pressure by some officers more senior than me.”

Macario is a highly decorated combat officer, who planned and headed 22 successful operations in Basilan in the past 7 months.  Under his watch, he centralized mission planning and carried them all out successfully – except this last one.  Reports said Macario was relieved of his command last Friday, but he said “hindi ko matanggap na operational lapses” (I couldn’t accept I had operational lapses).  Macario told me he took full responsibility for the deaths of 19 soldiers (as the officer in charge) and volunteered for court martial proceedings so he could defend himself.

Macario is certainly aware of the dangers in Basilan.  In an interview last March, he admitted “may collusion iyong tatlong grupo [ASG, MNLF, MILF].  Iyong ASG pupunta sa MILF.  Tutulong sila.  (tr.  There’s collusion between the three groups [ASG, MNLF, MILF].  The ASG runs to the MILF, who helps them.)

The military claims that of the 19 soldiers killed in Al-Barka, six were captured alive and later shot and hacked to death by the MILF, which the MILF denies.

The MILF claims the soldiers were battle casualties after the military attacked them in the designated safe zone.  The classified military report debunked that.  Officers said it was the MILF who violated the rules by helping lawless elements like the Abu Sayyaf.

“We are bent on running after these lawless elements,” said Maj. Gen. Francisco Cruz, Deputy AFP Chief of Staff for Intelligence.  “If the MILF were to obstruct this, then we would consider that a criminal offense.”

On Monday, Mr. Aquino maintained a delicate balance: he said he would continue the ceasefire and talks with the MILF, but arrest criminals, including those from the MILF.

“It is so easy, out of frustration, to close the door on negotiations at this time,” he said.  “If we go down this path, more innocent civilians will be put in harm’s way.  We will not pursue all-out war.  We will instead pursue all-out justice.”

Partly to assuage the military, Mr. Aquino authorized air strikes for the first time in 3 years in areas where the Abu Sayyaf and other “lawless elements” operate and warned the MILF against protecting them.

Sources close to Mr. Aquino said he was deeply disappointed by the military’s shortcomings.  He said the calls for war come “from those who do not have a full awareness of all the factors at play.” - Move.PH

Spokesperson

Finally,  3 weeks respite from all the hassle of Hassleganistan.

The death of our valiant soldiers is disturbing enough. But what and how our Commander-in-Cheap has been handling the issue got to be more disturbing if not more frustrating. Take for instance the sacking of the AFP's spokesperson, this was their explanation I read from the Philippine Star: "Malacañang, meanwhile, advised government spokespersons not to voice out their personal opinions - especially if these are contrary to the official position."

So, that explains why Valte, Lacierda, and Carandang speaks the way they speak. Talking trashily about official issues- which seems their personal opinions, too. Yet, no sanction from the Palace. So, too was the mistweet of Mislang. OMG - these bruitish loquacity is sanction by the palace.

OMG is an understatement.

utak bang bang

More here.

into the perimeter of netherworld

Prelude to a week in hell. A thought of it is enough to give me epileptic shock.

But hey, Sarah is here to keep me from the fires of hell! Mahal na kita talaga Sarah :) Saraaaaaahhhhhhh.... LOL.

fanboy mode*

Sarah, akin ka na lang para hindi ka na malungkot :)




Paulit-ulit-ulit ko itong pinapanood dahil mahal na kita, Sarah. :)

Lost in translation

This was a paragraph from a news report today, it goes:

MALOLOS, Bulacan—President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday confronted criticism that he was nowhere to be seen at the height of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel, saying he was not like a vampire who could split his body into two to please everyone.

In his interviews, what Pnoy said was manananggal. A mananaggal is unique to our culture (?) and it won't equate to a vampire. Lost in translation. Why won't they use manananggal?

Death Cab

A life spent well.

Thank you for the vision & the innovation

Thank you for my imac, iphone, & ipod

celebrity *

(News v Opinion/Feature) writing

Aquino is widely known as a slacker and is usually late for appointments and also was known to have cancelled several appointments to give in to inertia.

I'm not sure if the underscored clause fits in a news item. Oh well, I'm not a journ major nor any of it's allied courses..

Where is Wally?

Missing in Action ba si Wally?

abate: un-masterbate

Dear Santaklaws,

Yesterday was a sad day because the Senator we voted whose election slogan shouted "Gusto ko Happy ka!" announced the opposite. He sweepingly said that masturbation is tantamount to abortion, and Reflecting on this statement made me realized that I'm a recidivist, a repeat offender, an abominable creature unworthy of heaven.

With this, would I still receive a gift from you, Santa?

Hail, Holy One!

send in the klawns

$ 1M

I wonder when will the government give the Province of Bulacan their $1M?

outcast

I liked the photo. Farm Animals on the rooftop after their owners evacuated their submerged homes. Upon closer look the dog on the left looks like an outcast. No wonder why, he's either shunned by the group or on self immolation because of his "galis aso." Ang aarte rin pala ng mga hayop. :)

LYN RILLON/ Inquirer.net