Southern Philippines

Secessionist Group (SPSG)

ICITAP PHILIPPINES
 INTRODUCTION

• INTRODUCE INSTRUCTOR TO THE

TRAINEES
A. Name: PSSG ARNEL REFUERZO COLANTA
B. Designation/present unit
assignment/work experience
 RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY PNCO
b.1. Designation:
 RTC 8
b.2. Present unit assignment:
2
 INTRODUCTION

b.3. Work Experience

DATE POSITION TITLE ASSIGNMENT DESIGNATION
Oct. 2019- POLICE STAFF REGINAL RSPNCO
PRESENT SERGEANT TRAINING
CENTER 8
Sept.2018- POLICE STAFF ALBUERA MPS DESK
Oct.2019 SERGEANT OFFICER/FINANCE
PNCO
Oct.2017- POLICE CORPORAL LEYTE TEAM LEADER
Sept.2018 PROVINCIAL
MOBILE FORCE
COMPANY
Oct.2014- PATROLMAN EASTERN TEAM LEADER
Oct.2017 SAMAR PUBLIC
SAFETY
COMPANY

3
 DATE POSITION TITLE ASSIGNMENT DESIGNATION
Sept.2012- PATROLMAN REGIONAL LEADSCOUT
Oct.2014 PUBLIC SAFETY
BATTALION
June 15, 2012- POLICE TRAINEE RTC 8 MARCHER
June 15, 2011
Nov.15, 2005 – PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 20IB & CMOBn RIFLEMAN &
June 15, 2011 PHILIPPINE PSYOPS
ARMY SPECIALIST

4
 TRAININGS AND SEMINARS
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING COURSE
HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE
INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE
PUBLIC SAFETY JUNIOR LEADERSHIP COURSE
GLOCK COMPETENCY TRAINING
TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH ANALYSIS SEMINAR
AWARDS
MEDALYA NG PAPURI - 20
MEDALYA NG KASANAYAN - 9
MEDALYA NG PAGLABAN SA MANLILIGALIG - 2
MEDALYA NG PAGLILINGKOD SA VISAYAS - 2
MEDALYA NG PAGLILINGKOD SA PAGTULONG SA NASALANTA - 2

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, IDENTIFICATION AND MEDALYA NG PAGLILINGKOD SA SANTO PAPA - 1

DETECTION SEMINAR
CRIME SCENE FIRST RESPONDERS WORKSHOP
BAYANIHAN TEAM REFRESHER TRAINING
SPECIAL COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPERATION UNIT TRAINING

PUBLIC SAFETY FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM

SPECIAL OPERATION TRAINING WHITE AREA
SOLDIER REFRESHER COURSE
PLATOON SUSTAINMENT TRAINING
AIR TO GROUND OPERATION SEMINAR
CANDIDATE SOLDIER COURSE

5
 LEVEL COURSE NAME OF SCHOOL INCLUSIVE
DATE

COLLEGE BS AGRICULTURAL LEYTE STATE UNIVERSITY- 2000 - 2004

TECHNOLOGY ALANGALANG CAMPUS

SECONDARY HIGH SCHOOL GARNJA NATIONAL HIGH 1995 - 1999

SCHOOL

ELEMENTARY PRIMARY GRANJA ELEMENTARY 1989 - 1995

SCHOOL

ELIGIBILITY:  SPO EXAM

 PO EXAM
ICITAP PHILIPPINES
 ENTRANCE EXAM

6
Secessionist – a person who thinks that a nation,
state, etc., should separate from another and
become independent.
Propaganda
Ideas or statements that are often false or
exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a
cause.
Art and technique of influencing the people to
think.
Understanding the CNN and SPSG propaganda
 
Southern Philippines Secessionist Group (SPSG)

The Muslim secessionist movement in the Southern

Philippines is rooted in the centuries-old resistance of Muslim
Filipinos against Spanish colonization. The destruction of the
traditional patterns of authority and communal autonomy,
curtailment of individual freedom, and the introduction of a new
religion fueled the resistance of the Muslims in Mindanao.
Unlike their counterparts in Luzon and Visayas, the Muslims of
Mindanao refused to submit to Spanish authority. Such
resistance has endured to this day. Whereas the communist
party aims to overthrow the government to establish a socialist
state, Muslim secessionist groups want to secede from the
Philippines and form a separate Bangsamoro (Islamic State).
The Muslim separatist sentiment is caused by the following
main factors: first, Muslim fear that their religious, cultural, and
political traditions may be weakened or destroyed by forced
assimilation into a Catholic-dominated Philippine Republic.
Second, Muslims resent the influx of migrants from Luzon and
Visayas, which dispossessed them of their ancestral and
communal lands and turned them into a minority in their own
land. Third, Muslims reject the economic underdevelopment
and poverty of Mindanao. Rabasa and Chalk that 15 of the
Philippine’s poorest provinces are located in the region, which
also has the country’s lowest literacy rate (75 percent) and life
expectancy (57 years). Moreover, most provinces have limited
or no access to basic social services, such as electricity and
water supply, education, and health. Fourth, is the Mindanao
tradition of warlordism, banditry, and blood feuds among
ethnic groups.
The Southern Philippines Secessionist
Groups is comprised of these groups:

(1) The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF);

(2) The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF);
(3)The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG);
(4) The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter
(BIFF); and
(5) The KhilafaIslamiyaMovement Mindanaoan
(KIM).
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was founded
by Nur Misuari on March 18, 1969, an educated Tausug, in
1971. The MNLF believe that (1) the Moro people constitute
a distinct bangsa (nation) that has a specific Islamic
historical and cultural identity; (2) the bangsamoro (Islamic
nation) has a legitimate right to self-determination; and (3)
the MNLF has a duty and obligation to wage a jihad against
the Philippine State. As such, the movement fought for due
representation of Muslims in the Philippine political process.
In 1996, peace talks between the Government and MNLF
have resulted to the establishment of the Zone of Peace and
Development (ZOPAD) in Mindanao; the creation of
Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development
(SPCPD); and Misuari’s election as governor of the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, which gave the
Muslims a stake in the political process of the country. Thus,
only the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf
remain in the Muslim secessionist movement at present. 
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a breakaway group
from the MNLF established by Hashim Salamat in 1977 and left its
parent organization in 1980.

Differences in the two group’s goals paved the way for such
separation. The MILF has a more religious orientation than the
MNLF. Aside from pursuing nationalist objectives, the group also
aims to promote Islamic ideals in the country. Hashim Salamat, the
group’s leader states that their political objective is to create a
separate Islamic State encompassing provinces in Mindanao where
Muslims are majority. The Shari’a (Islamic Law) will be observed in
all aspects of life in the said Islamic State. The MILF aims to attain
such goal thru da’wa (Islamic preaching) and jihad (holy war). As a
revolutionary military force, MILF does not practice indiscriminate
violence against civilians. Its violent activities, mostly in the form of
orthodox guerilla warfare, are only aimed at the Philippine Military.
However, the group also uses terrorist-type tactics to extort
revolutionary taxes.
  The Abu Sayyaf Group (literally “Bearer of the Sword”), a
fundamentalist organization that was founded in1989 and was
originally named Mujahideen Commando Freedom Fighters
(MCFF), due to its link with the Mujahideen movement in
Afghanistan. The majority of the group’s members are Muslim
youths, with many of the older cadres reportedly veterans of
the Afghan war. The Abu Sayyaf does not only want to
establish a separate Islamic state governed by the Shari’a. The
group also wants this state to be exclusive for Muslims. The
Abu Sayyaf does not practice religious tolerance towards non-
Muslims. The activities of the group are terrorist in nature and
are tied to the integrated effort among Muslim fundamentalists
in asserting the dominance of Islam in global politics. The Abu
Sayyaf Group received international attention when they
abducted and hostaged some foreigners in Sipadan, Malaysia.
Abu Sayyaf is also involved in criminal
activities, including kidnapping, rape, child
sexual, drive-by shooting, extortion, and drug
trafficking.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters

(BIFF) is a Muslim militant organization based
in Mindanao. They are a smaller player in the
overall Moro insurgency in the Philippines and
are mostly active in Central Mindanao.
Led by Ameril Umbra Kato, the BIFF broke away
from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in
2008. In 2008, after the Philippine Supreme Court
nullified the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral
Domain signed by the Philippine government and the
MILF, Kato led a contingent of MILF fighters in an
attack against civilians. Their goal is independence
for the Bangsamoro people and area, and they have
declared that they will not settle for anything less.
They rejected the Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro, a preliminary peace agreement signed
between the Government of the Philippines and the
MILF and vowed to continue their fight.
In January 2014, after the final annexes of the Framework
Agreement were signed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
launched Operation Darkhorse against the BIFF. The army
captured the BIFF's main camp in Barangay Ganta, Shariff
Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao which reportedly held 500
fighters.

On February 4, 2014, MNLF Islamic Command Council

chairman Habib Mujahab Hashim confirmed reports that the
BIFF forged an alliance with his group, the Moro National
Liberation Front.

There are also alleged reports that more than 200 Filipinos
under BIFF and Abu Sayyaf are training as jihadists in Iraq
under the Islamic State. BIFF has declared support for the
Islamic State.
KhilafahIslamiyah Movement (KIM)
A renegade Moro rebel group
described as a figment of the
government’s imagination that
authorities blamed for recent bomb
attacks in parts of Mindanao.
 What is COMMUNISM?

• A doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism

and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

• A way of organizing a society in which the

Government owns the things that are used to make
and transport products (such as land, oil, factories,
ships, etc.) and there is no privately owned property.

• A theory advocating elimination of private property.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (Filipino:
Partido Komunistang Pilipinas) is a leading communist
party in the Philippines. It has been fighting a guerrilla
war against the state since the late 1960s. It remains
an underground political organization since its founding
on December 26, 1968 and has been operating in
clandestine manner since its founding. It aims to
overthrow the Philippine government through armed
revolution with its direct leadership over the New
People's Army and National Democratic Front

NPA – armed wing, organized by Bernabe Buscayno

aka Kumander Dante on March 29, 1969
NDF – Political Wing, established by Fr. Luis Jalandoni
on April 24, 1973
Communist Party of the Philippines
Chairperson - Armando Liwanag (Jose Maria Sison)
Founded - December 26, 1968
Preceded by - Partido Komunistang
Pilipinas-1930
Military wing- New People's Army
Ideology - Marxism–Leninism- Maoism
Political position - Far-left
National affiliation - National Democratic

Front, National Democracy Movement - Bayan

International affiliation - International Conference of Marxist

Leninist Parties and Organizations

Thank you for Listening
The Al-Barka Basilan Incident
“Tayo nag-initiate, ng encounter. Tayo nalagasan ng ganoon karami.
Automatic ang tanong, pinaghandaan natin ang operation, bakit
ganito ang resulta?…ang pagkakamali, nasa tao. Pero ang paulit-ulit
na pagkakamali, kasalanan na iyon. Hindi natin pwedeng pabayaan
na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na maging paulit-ulit ito. Kung may
mali, depekto sa sistema, ayusin na natin ito. Kung sa training, kung
saanman. Hanapin kung saan ang sanhi bakit nagkaroon ng
disaster. Ayusin ang mga problema.”

That was President Aquino III speaking, during a press conference

he gave on Monday afternoon, where he reiterated that there will be
no “all-out-war” against the MILF.

He had earlier refused to answer what lessons were learned about

the Basilan encounter, simply saying there is “an ongoing
investigation” that “will decide lives, careers and perhaps even
criminal liabilities of (the) people involved.”
What was he talking about?

The initial findings – THE INVESTIGATION IS

STILL GOING ON – as reported in the command
conference with the President and the AFP’s top
brass last Friday, was that the soldiers who died
shouldn’t have been sent there in the first place.
They died because they were sent there
unprepared and without planning, so much so that
they were practically sent there to die. But that’s
me talking, generalizing.

Here are the findings, according to a printed

report shown to me:
*The use of the students of scuba diving course to
conduct combat operations was not authorized by the
1ID, WestMinCom and GHQ.

*No deliberate mission planning was done which could

have provided a thorough preparation and action during
exigencies. This resulted to the following:

*during the planning and preparation, appreciation of

the threat situation and the terrain in the area of
operation were not properly considered and analyzed.
The area is within the vicinity of MILF concentration.
The implications of operating in the area were not
considered despite the incidents in the past. Moreover,
the CO, 4th SFBN miscalculated the intervention of
MILF 114th Base Command.
*the commanders failed to consider the limited capability of
4th SF Battalion Forces and the students. Forces of 4th Scout
Ranger Battalion or the 32nd Infantry Battalion could have been
used if operation is properly planned or coordinated.

*The U3, WestMinCom was told about the operation only at

about 180700H Oct 2011. He was informed about the
encounter at about 0900H.

*The lack of proper coordination from higher headquarters

delayed the use of air and artillery assets. Aside from the lack
of jointness in the planning process, there was no participation
of other arms services and the reserve force is very small
composed of one SF team only.

*There was no operation order for the operations, hence, some

of the planning process and considerations were neglected.
*The use of air and artillery assets was delayed due to poor
planning. With the distance of the engagement area, it took
sometime before reinforcements to arrive and the time to
prepare the reinforcing troops.
“4th SFBN Commander initiated and launched the operation
utilizing his own forces and the students of military scuba
diving course class 42-11 without the proper authorization
from higher headquarters.

“The Commander of SOTF Basilan was only informed of

the operation the day before the troops jumped-off from
their line of departures. Though, the SOTF Commander
informed them of the enemy situation in the area and
warned them regarding their inconsistent assessment of
the MILF presence and possible engagement with the
troops, the operation was still pursued.”
But the problem goes beyond a lack of authorization. As PNoy
reportedly said during the command conference, the problem
was a breakdown in the chain of command. Commanders are
supposed to know what is happening in their areas of
responsibility, whether or not the actions were authorized.

Among the recommendations made were to “review the

procedures on the utilization of students for operations,” and to
“follow basic military decision-making process in order to
produce a more effective combat team.”

The stories told by the survivors are not part of the report. I
have not heard the stories personally, I was told about these
instead, so this is considered hearsay. But even in a court of
law hearsay may be admitted, depending on the
circumstances and the reasons why the court is being asked
to admit them.
One survivor reportedly described how, as early as 5:30
a.m., their officers were asking for reinforcements. The
radioman had fallen and the officer could be heard shouting
over the radio, asking for reinforcements. The report said that
helicopters were sent in as early as 9:30 a.m., but they only
picked up the wounded. By the time the reinforcements got to
the site, according to the report, it was 4 p.m. The enemy had
left. The officers who had asked for reinforcement were dead.

“The 4th SFBN requested close air support and casualty

evacuation for the engaged forces. At about 9:30 in the
morning, two UH-1H aircraft (504 and 794) escorted by one
MG-520 helicopter took off Edwin Andrews Air Force Base,
Zamboanga City and proceeded towards Basilan. The
helicopters proceeded to Al-Barka, Basilan and were able to
pick-up four WIA and brought them to Tabiawan, Basilan
arriving at about 10:42 a.m.
“At the same time, a reinforcing SF team under Capt
Mallanao from Bato-Bato detachment was engaged and
fixed by another blocking enemy force.”

It was already 12 noon when another pair of Hueys inserted

Scout Ranger troops into the encounter site. An hour later,
two OV-10 Broncos conducted bomb runs “to support the
engaged forces.”

“Finally, the reinforcing forces were able to reach the

engagement area and conducted clearing operation at about
4 p.m. to recover the other KIA and WIA. At the same time,
the enemy had already disengaged.”

Another hearsay story: One of the officers –who died – was

heard shouting over the radio: Huwag ninyo naman kaming
ganituhin! or Walang ganyanan. Or something to that effect.
“While the casualties were evacuated and troops were
inserted by helicopters in the encounter area, Cpt Tupas
eventually managed to link-up with the 2nd combat group. He
found difficulty in the process as the command and control of
the group is no longer effective with the death of its four
officers, notably 1Lt Alsiyao who acted as the overall
commander of the group.

“It was learned that 1Lt Alsiyao was hit by enemy fires at
about 7:30 in the morning and the other officers
subsequently becoming casualties.”

I was told that the course director said the students were
unprepared, and unarmed. To which the officer who ordered
them deployed replied that he would give them guns.
I have no idea if that was true. But the report details what the AFP lost,
aside from 19 soldiers: 15 high-powered firearms, one Harris man-
pack radio, and three night-vision goggles. I didn’t know students who
go on test missions were that well-equipped.

The way the story was managed, and eventually spun and twisted by
interest groups, is a different story altogether. Another, longer story
that must also wait, is how many people — journalists included —
jumped into conclusions without digging for facts. Or used their
opinions — which they mistook for facts — to jump into conclusions.

This was just the initial report, presented to the President three days
after the incident. Reading the report, it’s easy to pin the blame on the
commander of the 4th SFBN, who ordered the deployment. But I’ve
been told that it was the system that encouraged and allowed him to
do that: hanging one officer would not correct the system, but
perpetuate the policy mistakes that allowed the Basilan encounter to
happen in the first place.

This might also be why some officers have remained silent, though
they could – and should – have spoken out. But that’s a longer story,
meant for another day.
 Mamasapano Clash
The Mamasapano clash, also known as the Mamasapano
Massacre, was a police operation, codenamed Oplan Exodus,
which took place on Sunday, January 25, 2015, at Tukanalipao, 
Mamasapano, Maguindanao, by Special Action Force(SAF) of the 
Philippine National Police (PNP) (allegedly joined by United States
Army Special Forces) against the 
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the 
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The operation was intended
to capture or kill wanted Malaysian terrorist and bomb-maker 
Zulkifli Abdhir and other Malaysian terrorists and/or high-ranking
members of the BIFF.
Originally a mission to serve arrest warrants for high-
ranking terrorists, it led to the deaths of 44 members of
SAF, 18 from MILF and 5 from the BIFF, and several
civilians, and the death of Zulkifli Abdhir confirmed by
the FBI and the PNP at 6:30 p.m. of February 4, 2015
due to a matching DNA result. He was one of FBI's
most wanted terrorists. Getulio Napeñas, the relieved
SAF commander, estimates about 250 casualties from
the combined MILF, BIFF, and private militias during
the encounter although this was not confirmed and was
met with skepticism since aside from the fact that there
was no actual body count, there is no acceptable level
of evidence to prove his claim. Napenas' estimate was
also debunked by the MILF and by the local
government of Mamasapano.
The operation caught the attention of many for the
relatively high number of police officers killed. The clash
has been dubbed as the biggest loss of government
elite force in history. The mission was called Oplan
Exodus, initially misattributed asOplan Wolverine by
the local media. Oplan Wolverine refers to three of the
other nine prior operation attempts targeting Marwan;
Oplan Wolverine 1, 2 and 3 launched in December
2012, March and May 2014 respectively. by the PNP-
SAF. The incident caused the Philippine Congress to
halt the passage of theBangsamoro Basic Law,
effectively endangering the peace process between the
government and the MILF.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation later participated in

identifying Zulkifli's body.
 Background Incident
On Sunday, January 25, 2015, three platoons of the elite SAF police squad
entered the guerrilla enclave of Tukanalipao, Mindanao, Philippines, with the goal
of detaining two high-ranking Jemaah Islamiyah-affiliated, improvised-explosive-
device experts, Zulkifli Abdhir (also known as Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman.
The SAF troops raided the hut where they believed Marwan was located, and the
man they believe to be Marwan engaged them in a firefight and was killed. The
SAF initially planned to take his body for identification. However, the shooting
alerted the BIFF and MILF 118th Command in the area. The SAF had no time to
retrieve the body so they just cut off a finger, took a photo, and left his body
there. By 6:18 AM UTC+8 (PST), an SMS message was sent by the Commander
of SAF 61D Battalion to SAF Director Getulio Napeñas that they were pinned
down at coordinates 6.92489°N 124.52047°E. What followed was a bloody
encounter that left 44 SAF, 18 MILF, and 5 BIFF dead.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, the FBI confirmed to the PNP
that the DNA sample from the finger matched that of Marwan's
brother detained in a U.S. facility.

A MILF spokesman accused the SAF squads of initiating the

firefight, claiming that the rebels acted in self-defense, and
proposed the continuation of the peace process.

Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesman, said that his rebel group's
relationship with the MILF's 105th Command headed by Ustadz
Zacaria Guma is positive. “We're all family,” Mama commenting
on BIFF's relationship with Guma's unit. Mama said that there is
no distinction between BIFF members and members of Guma's
unit and claims that all of them are either relatives or friends of
each other. It was reported that Guma's unit would engage other
MILF units over disputes such as clan feuds. It was also reported
that Guma is not on good terms with other MILF units which
Guma views as "Munafiq", or hypocrites.
A ranking military intelligence officer who spoke on condition of
anonymity said that BIFF leader Ameril Umbra Kato ordered the
killing of the SAF members by his group and members of the MILF
involved in the incident. The official also quoted Kato as saying
“Leave no one alive and take all their firearms, ammunition, and
personal belongings.” A colonel from the Philippine Army, who also
spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the information and said
that SAF personnel who were still alive but wounded were shot dead
by some BIFF members.

A private armed group led by Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan was

reportedly among those involved in the killings of the SAF members.
Bahnarin Ampatuan, who is also implicated in the Maguindanao
massacre case, is the brother of Mamasapano mayor Benzar
Ampatuan. Bahnarin and Benzar Amputuan were rivals at the 2010
Mayoral elections. Benzar expressed doubt of his brother's
participation and believes that Bahnarin would not associate himself
with such groups like the BIFF nor to people like Abdul Basit
Usman who made an attempt to kill Benzar's grandfather.
Prior operations

The Philippine National Police planned

ten operations, including Oplan
Exodus which was implemented on
January 25, 2015, targeting bomb
expert Zulkifli Abdhir also known as
Marwan. Oplan Exodus, the last of the
ten operations planned by the PNP
was the only operation successful in
neutralizing Marwan.
 Date of
Operation (Oplan) Scope Result
Implementation
Pitas Parang, Sulu December 2010 Executed
Butig, Lanao del
Smartbomb July 2012 Executed
Sur
Mamasapano,
Wolverine December 2012 Mission aborted
Maguindanao
Cyclops Marawi April 2013 Executed
Cyclops 2 Marawi June 2013 Mission aborted
Mamasapano,
Wolverine 2 March 2014 Mission aborted
Maguindanao
Mamasapano,
Wolverine 3 May 2014 Mission aborted
Maguindanao
Mamasapano,
ENGINEER November 2014 Mission aborted
Maguindanao
Mamasapano,
Terminator 2 December 2014 Mission aborted
Maguindanao
Primary Objective
Mamasapano,
Exodus January 2015 Complete -
Maguindanao
Marwan killed
Casualties

Special Action Force

A total of 44 SAF personnel were killed during the

encounter. #Fallen44 became a worldwide trend on
social media site Twitter as an effort to honor the 44
slain SAF members. The SAF casualties were later
dubbed as the Fallen 44. The incident saw one of the
highest fatalities of government forces in a single
peace time operation.

United States Army

According to a local farmer, a "blue-eyed" American 
soldier was among the casualties. However, the U.S.
embassy later denied any involvement in the clash.
Targets

The two agencies that cooperated during the battle,

the Philippine National Police and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, confirmed on Wednesday February 4, 2015
at 6:30 p.m. that Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan,
was officially killed during the Mamasapano encounter
due to a matching DNA test. The MILF later said that,
based on an intelligence report that they had received,
Marwan was dead as a result of an encounter. MILF
chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim said that, based on their
information, Marwan who was in his nipa hut home was
surrounded by SAF troops and was reported to open fire
first and that SAF officers were able to shoot Marwan
dead. Marwan's body was reportedly left at the hut and
was immediately buried. Ebrahim also said that Abdul
Basit Usman, who was also pursued by SAF troops, was
able to escape.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front

Mohagher Iqbal said that 18 MILF personnel were

killed during combat, while 14 were injured.
In the other hand, According to one of official of
MILF said they have 17 of their members were
killed in the clash. Then PO2 Christopher Lalan,
lone survivor of the clash, “at least 11 members of
the combined forces of MILF, BIFF, and private
armed groups were taken down by SAF troopers
from his Company,” he said. Former PNP-SAF
head Chief Supt, he added that the Saf sniper was
able to shoot down between 25 to 30 attackers. In
which the total of casualties are 250 in MILF, BIFF
and in Mamasapano clash —Napeñas.
Civilians

Moro group, Suara Bangsamoro, claimed in a post-fact finding

mission report that at least 7 civilians were killed and 3 others
were injured during the Mamasapano clash. Jerome Succor Aba,
national spokesperson of the group, said that residents of
Barangay Tukanalipao were preparing for their daily activities
when SAF commandos entered the area and opened fire at the
residence of the Panangulon family, resulting in the death of five-
year-old child Sarah Panangulon and leaving her parents Tots
and Samrah wounded. Badrudin Langalan, a farmer, was found
dead hogtied at the wooden bridge in the barangay. Aba
describes Langalan's body as being riddled with bullets and eyes
as gouged out. Aba said that five other people were killed who
were heading to the mosque in Sitio Inugog and said that based
from stories of residents that the SAF was behind their deaths.
“Civilians bore the brunt of the botched operations, they were
made to suffer on suspicions that they are harboring terrorists.
Suara calls for justice and recognition of the true victims and
accountability to the police and Aquino administration,” Aba said.
It was reported that Badruddin Langalan was killed by stray bullets.
Badruddin's wife Sarah Langalan recalled that her husband went to charge
his cellphone but never came back. 16-year-old Saat Manadal was also
wounded due to stray bullets and is under the intensive care unit of
the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.
Aftermath

A statue in honor of the 'Fallen 44' in Angeles City

The incident sparked the internal displacement of several
hundred families amidst fears of continued clashes.

The chairman of the Philippine Senate Committee on Local

Government, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., stated that hearings
regarding the involvement of security and armed forces provisions
of the Bangsamoro Basic Law were halted. Senator Alan Peter
Cayetano also claimed that his coalition will withdraw its support
for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, endangering the ongoing peace
process. While the Philippine House of Representatives also
suspended its hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law,
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said that the lower house remained
supportive of the measure, although it had been somewhat
"eroded" due to the killings. He also took note that unlike in the
Senate where Cayetano and JV Ejercito had withdrawn their
sponsorship of the bill, no congressman had done the same, and
that the measure would be passed on time.
The Philippine National Police relieved
Special Action Force head Director Getulio
Napeñas of his post following the clash in
Maguindanao; he was replaced by deputy
SAF director Chief Superintendent Noli
Taliño. In a press briefing at Camp Crame,
Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina
and Secretary of Interior and Local
Government Mar Roxas announced the
establishment of a board of inquiry tasked
with the investigation of the police
encounter in Maguindanao.
President Aquino delivered a televised address on January
28. He said that the MILF should identify those who were
involved in the killing of the members of the SAF, return the
slain SAF members' guns and personal belongings, and
allow the government to continue their operation against
the terrorists. In addition, he also declared January 30 as a
"National Day of Mourning", and pressed for the immediate
Congressional approval of the proposed Bangsamoro
Basic Law.  Aquino admitted that there was a "lack of
coordination" among the government forces and the MILF,
that he and suspended police chief Alan
Purisima personally knew of the operations, and that both
Roxas and Espina were not notified of it beforehand.
Furthermore, Aquino was not able to explain why these two
officials were unaware of the operations. Earlier, a Manila
Standard Today article claimed that Purisima not only knew
of the operation, but even took control of the operations
despite being suspended from duty.
A video of the killings the allegedly one of the
SAF was uploaded on YouTube, but has since
been taken down from the site, those who
manage to download the video are sold in
DVD format in the streets of Manila. Also, the
video was uploaded in social media site
Facebook.

In an effort to mend relations with the villagers

in the area where the clash occurred, in 2015
the government began construction of a
bridge over the river by the field where the 44
policemen were killed. The bridge was named
"The Bridge of Peace."
 Reactions
Local
General protests
 
Considerable support and calls for justice were high on the agenda of the
Filipinos, showing support to the slain cops and has been trending
through various social media. Local police forces as well as the military
personnel wore black armbands in sympathy with their fallen comrades.

Thousands of policemen marched on the streets over various locations in

the Philippines with some starting at dawn. About 5,000 policemen,
firemen, and jail guards in their uniforms trooped from the Libingan ng
mga Bayani to the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO)
headquarters in Taguig City, and called for justice for the members of the
elite SAF men killed. The walk also included some of the families of the
victims and other civilians, even members of a U.S. delegation from the
Indiana State Police, who were visiting the country. Almost in complete
attendance were the members of the PNPA Kaisang Bisig Class of 2009,
who lost three of their batchmates in the massacre: Senior Insp. Gednat
Tabdi, Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria, and Senior Insp. John Gary Erana.
Calls for justice was strong from members of the PNP in Bicol
Region. Policemen across the regions also offered Mass,
flowers, and lighted candles in front of their police stations to
honor their slain colleagues. They also covered their badges
with black ribbons and wore black armbands. In the Bicol
Region as well, 19 senior inspectors leading municipal police
offices shaved their heads to show sympathy with the families
of their three batch mates belonging to the 2009 class of the
Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), who died in the
carnage. Their female batch mate, Senior Insp. Sheena
Guzman, chief of police of Canaman town in Camarines Sur,
also cut her hair close to the scalp. Senior Insp. Rey Anthony
Villanueva of the Regional Intelligence Division in Bicol, said
what happened in Mamasapano was a "massacre". 

In Boac, Marinduque, local officials, government employees,

policemen, firemen, and barangay officials gathered in front of
the "Bantayog sa mga Nagtanggol ng Inang Bayan" to offer
their sympathies. A three-minute moment of silence was
observed as well.
In Isabela province, the Catholic faithful joined police officers in a
"walk for peace" in Santiago City In which the "running priest", Fr.
Robert Reyes, who led the activity, said the walk expressed their
grief for the fallen officers, three of whom were from Isabela.
“Together we pray and say, ‘Peace walks, peace talks’ for indeed if
we walk together for peace, peace will begin to speak and spread
through us,” he said.

In Cebu, Parishioners joined the Santiago policemen in a 2-

kilometer march to the Saint Francis of Assisi Church. At least 700
policemen from different units in Cebu province braved the early
morning drizzle to show their sympathy for the families of the slain
SAF policemen. Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, Jr., head of the Philippine
National Police Alumni Association Inc. in Cebu, organized the walk.
“This is just a show of sympathy. We still believe in the government
that they will not turn their backs on this one. We expect that justice
will be served,” he said.

In Iloilo, at least 150 policemen paid tribute to the slain SAF

members in a simple ceremony in Sta. Barbara town. The
policemen who wore black ribbons donated cash totaling about
₱25,000 for the families of the slain commandos.
Public Figures

Lucena Bishop Emilio Marquez told reporters here that

“any talk of amnesty for the culprits behind the deaths
of 44 elite commandos was "very wrong". Giving a
pardon to whoever is behind the bloody killing is
reprehensible. All persons responsible must suffer.
They should be sent to jail.” “Filipinos are demanding
no more than the truth and genuine justice,” he said. He
also assailed the brutality inflicted on the 44
commandos. He then offered a Mass specifically for the
SAF 44 and their families attended by uniformed
personnel led by Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan,
Quezon police chief, occupied several pews. Some of
the policemen, several of whom came with their
families, were in tears as the bishop delivered his
homily.
Former President Joseph Estrada expressed condemnation towards
the rebels saying that a peace talk with them would not work and
believes a declaration of an all-out war against them is only the
solution to the peace process in Mindanao. Former President Fidel V.
Ramos remains supportive of the peace process even though he
explains that the finalization of the peace process may be after
President Benigno Aquino III's term. Despite his expression of support
towards the peace process, Ramos still criticized Aquino saying “There
should be no hesitation on the part of the commander in chief.
Otherwise, it will be part of your legacy to be always hesitant, flip-
flopping.” He criticized Aquino, who is also the commander-in-chief of
the PNP and the AFP, for his apparent poor strategic direction and
asserts that it is the soldier, the policeman, the law enforcer, the
guardian of security that suffers because of his decisions. Ramos also
insists that Aquino should have made consultation with retired police
officers and soldiers before the security operation in Mamasapano.

Reigning Mister International 2014, Police officer 2 Mariano Perez

Flomata, Jr. said his victory is honored for the families and loved ones
of the "Fallen 44". Seven of his batchmates who killed in the clash
were from the Mabalasik Class of 2008 of the PNPA.
Militant groups

Leftist militant group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)

led by Renato Reyes Jr. questioned President Benigno Aquino
III regarding allegations that he knew of the police operation
citing a prior report by Manila Standard. The newspaper report
claimed that Aquino was aware of the operation and that Aquino
assigned suspended PNP Alan Purisima to lead the operation
without the knowledge of DILG secretary Mar Roxas II. It also
claimed that the operation were a directive from the United
States which "even offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan's
capture." Bayan also added that it supports the peace process
while calling for an investigation on the incident in Mamasapano
and called for those who were behind the operation to be held
unaccountable. Leftist group Anakpawis also made a similar
statement, blaming Aquino for the aftermath of the Mamasapano
clash suspecting that Aquino was mum on the alleged direct role
of suspended police chief Purisima and the United States. The
group also appealed to the public to be cautious in blaming the
MILF for the incident.
The Communist Party of the Philippines expressed
sympathies to the victims of the Mamasapano
clash. "The CPP sympathizes with the families of
the police troops who were sacrificed at the altar of
the US Terror War. It calls on all PNP officers and
troops to speak up and stand against the Aquino
regime and its police officials who ordered the
Mamasapano operation and expose continuing US
military interventionism in the Philippines," the
Communist Party said condemning the Aquino
government including the United States which the
party claims to be involved in the incident. The
Communist Party also reiterated its call to abolish
the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,
the Visiting Forces Agreement, and the Mutual
Defense Treaty.
Business sector

Some foreign investors withdrew from

investing in the country following the
incident. A group of Jordanian businessmen
willing to invest on a banana plantation left
abruptly once they arrived on February 1
after hearing about the
incident. Malaysian businessmen looking
for sites in Cotabato cancelled their trip
while a group of Malaysians
and Singaporeans who are seeking to
replicate their mini mall business halted
their investment
 International

 United Nations – The United Nations team in the

Philippines expressed its condolences to the families of
the 44 fallen members of the Special Action Force of the
Philippine National Police. The team also welcomed the
investigation on the incident initiated both by the
Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF). "We welcome the conduct of investigations
by the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) into the incident, and the commitments
expressed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, MILF
Chairman Ebrahim Murad and other concerned parties in
regard to sustaining focus on the peace process," UN
said in a statement. The United Nations expressed its
willingness to help in the ongoing peace process by
releasing resources to support the process.
European Union - European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux
expressed condolence to the families of the slain policemen and
acknowledged that the Mamasapano incident “shows that peace is
fragile, and it is regrettable that in spite of all the efforts this sort of
violence still happens." and also expressed hopes that the incident
will not affect the peace process in Mindanao. At the same time, the
EU envoy said the doubts raised by some quarters about the viability
of the peace agreement between the government and Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, including lawmakers’ suspension of discussions on
the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, was understandable.

 Australia – In a joint statement with Spain, Australia said through its

Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddel, stated that his
government hoped that the incident will not derail the peace process.
"I think the only sensible thing I can say, when we are all trying to find
out what exactly happened and why, is that how important it is for the
people of the Philippines, including Mindanao, that the peace process
is not discarded as a result of this tragedy and we are just hoping that
that could be the case," Tweddel said. The ambassador describes the
event as a "very sad development for those of us who care to see
peace in the Philippines."
 Canada – Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil
Reeder said his government is saddened by the bloody
encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao between the
PNP-Special Action Force and Moro Islamic Liberation
Front which left at least 44 government forces dead. “It is
very sad to see this happen. All of us share the grief of
the government and the Filipino people on what
transpired,” he told reporters at a media reception. “There
were so many casualties and wounded, particularly the
Philippine National Police, who were in that situation,” he
added. He also expressed hopes the incident will not
complicate the peace process in Mindanao as some
lawmakers, tasked to approve a draft law that will create
a new autonomous region in Mindanao following the
signing of the peace deal with the MILF, have signified
their opposition to it after the incident. He also added that
the Canadian government is awaiting further clarifications
on what really happened in Maguindanao.
Spain – In a joint statement with Australia, Spain stated that it
"trusts there will be a quick investigation into the facts and the
consequent accountability so that the search for solid and
long-lasting peace in Mindanao can be resumed with the
most extensive consensus possible,"

 Turkey – The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed

concern for the incident and hoped that the incident wouldn't
affect the peace process in Mindanao. The ministry also
expressed regrets to the loss and life and offered condolence
to the families and relatives to the victims of the clash.

 United States – US Ambassador Philip Goldberg hailed the

bravery of the slain police commandos. “My thoughts,
condolences to families and friends and colleagues of brave
members of the Special Action Force who lost their lives this
week,” Goldberg said in his Twitter account.
On January 30, 2015, The US Embassy
released an official statement expressing
its "heartfelt condolences to the families,
friends, and colleagues" of the slain SAF
policemen. "The SAF units fought with
bravery and demonstrated their
commitment to ensuring peace and order
in their country," it said. Also, the embassy
said the US reiterates its support for the
Philippine government’s efforts to fight
international terrorism while promoting a
"just and lasting peaceful resolution" to
the Mindanao conflict.
US Embassy Press Attache Kurt Hoyer denied allegations
of any US involvement in the clash after US troops in
civilian clothes were seen Monday assisting in the airlifting
of the wounded. Hoyer told MindaNews in a text message
Tuesday morning (January 27, 2015) that "at the request
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, US service
members serving in JSOTF-P (Joint Special Operations
Task Force-Philippines) responded to assist in the
evacuation of dead and wounded after the firefight in
Maguindanao." He also said he will ask the Philippine
National Police for the details of the operations.

United Kingdom – A Twitter post dated January 25 from

the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Hugo Swire was forwarded by the UK Ambassador
to the Philippines Asif Ahmad, saying: "Grim news of PNP
officers killed in action in Maguindanao. Our thoughts are
with the families of the men who died doing their duty."
Other Reactions Abroad

A sympathy walk for the 44 PNP-SAF commandos killed was

held on January 30 by alumni of the PNP, the local police and
various supporters and was also attended by four members
of the Chicago Police Department in Indiana, United States.

The International Monitoring Team which oversees the

implementation of ceasefire between government and the
(MILF), said it will start its own investigation in regards to the
incident. Malaysian Gen. Yaakub Samad, IMT head, said the
IMT board of inquiry will start its investigation on February 7
“to determine the real circumstances that led to the SAF-
MILF encounter".

After the confirmation of the killing of the terrorist Marwan,

the FBI congratulated the SAF.
Labeling of the incident

There is some debate regarding on what to call

the incident in Mamasapano a "misencounter" or
a massacre. The Senate labels the conflict as a
massacre due to the manner the 44 SAF
personnel were killed while the Commission of
Human Rights (CHR) insists that the incident
was a misencounter and not a massacre.

"The Mamasapano incident was overkill.

Labeling the tragedy as a misencounter would
do injustice to the fallen 44 PNP-SAF heroes."
the Senate report describes the Mamasapano
incident.
CHR which is led by Loretta Rosales insists that the incident was a
"misencounter" and not a massacre since the MILF and SAF forces
never intended to fight each other. Rosales says that the SAF troops
were armed and not helpless. MILF chief peace negotiator Mohaquer
Iqbal has also earlier described the incident as a "misencounter"
insisting that the clash was neither intended by MILF and
government forces.

Senator Chiz Escudero asserts that while he respects Rosales'

opinion regarding the labeling of the incident, he said that the
Senate's report describing the incident as a massacre is supported
by evidences, testimonies and documents. Senator Grace
Poe echoed Escudero's reasonings. Some Senators also criticized
the CHR's stand. Escudero questioned the CHR if the human rights
body does not cover the human rights of military and police
personnel. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito calls the human rights
body to also protect the rights of government security forces and not
only those of activists and media people. Senator and Acting Senate
Minority leader,Vicente Sotto III criticized the human rights body on
what he views as meddling and suggest the CHR to make their own
report on the incident.
In Popular Culture

The story of two of the 44 members of the special

forces killed in the massacre of Mamasapano,
Maguindanao was narrated in two special episodes of
the anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya . The first
episode dealt life agent John Gary Erana,
starring Coco Martin, while the latter told him the story
of the agent Rennie Tayrus starring Ejay Falcon.

The story of John Lloyd Sumbilla was narrated in an

episode of Wish Ko Lang starring Alden Richards.
While the stories of Ephraim Meija and Nicky DC
Nacino were narrated in separate episodes
of Magpakailanman starring Dennis Trillo and Rocco
Nacinorespectively.