Press Release
August 19, 2009

Gordon seeks inquiry on military's post operation actions

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today said that the Senate investigation on the recent encounter between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) should include an inquiry into the actions taken by the military after every operation.

Gordon, vice chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said that there are two main issues involved in the ambush of a Marine company last week in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. One is the viability of the peace process; and the other is the capability of the military to avoid such ambush incidents considering that there had been a couple of occasions where ambush cases have occurred in the same place.

"We have to study the causes for this ambush case. Whether it was perpetrated or supported by the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), which they deny, or whether it was perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf, which the government has said is a spent force. I believe we should try and investigate how and why this very, very sad situation occurred," he said.

"We want to know why ambush cases like this have to be repeated again and again in the same place. What does the military do after an encounter? I am sure there is an after-operation report. I am sure there would be investigations. But, has anybody ever been punished for dereliction of duty or poor commandership in instances like this? That's what concerns me," he added.

The senator said he does not believe that it is part of a soldier's job to die in combat. He stressed that it could be prevented with proper strategy and intelligence operations.

During last week's encounter in the town of Unkaya Pukan in Basilan City, 23 government troops died and at least 21 others were injured, while 31 of the militants perished.

"I hope that we can indeed find out whether there was failure of intelligence, or failure to use intelligence funds, or failure to make the necessary calls to prevent these things from happening, or perhaps a failure on the part of the military to do their homework after an operation and so that it is passed on to other lieutenants who can avoid this and can be more careful," Gordon said.

"I cannot accept a theory that 'talagang kasali sa trabaho namin ang mamatay diyan.' I do not believe in that. That is why I think there should be accountability. We cannot have generals being promoted over the dead bodies of our soldiers," he added.

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