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Chronology of Events Related to the Tukanalipao, Mamasapano Incident on 25 January 2015

Report by the GPH-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the GPH-Ad Hoc Joint Action Group

04 February 2015 I. Background: In the early morning of 25 January 2015, the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) conducted law enforcement operations (LEO) against the group of Zulkipli bin Hir, alias “Marwan”/”Madz”, a terrorist leader of the Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI), and Abdulbasit Usman, a notorious local bomber, at a riverside situated along the border of Barangays Pimbalkan and Pedsandawan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Marwan and Usman are criminally charged for the series of bombings in Mindanao. A gun battle erupted between the SAF and Marwan’s men, and Marwan was accordingly killed during the clashes. As the law enforcement operation (LEO) went on, an unfortunate encounter flared up involving another set of troops of the PNP-SAF and elements of the 105th Base Command (BC) of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) in Baranggay Tukanalipao, also of Mamasapano municipality. This area is more or less two (2) kilometers away from Barangays Pimbalkan and Pedsandawan. This was the only incidence of a firefight between the Government and MILF forces since the 2011 incident in Al Barka, Basilan. Elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) from nearby

barangays likewise engaged the PNP-SAF. The clashes resulted in the death of 44 and wounding of 12 officers of the PNP-SAF. THE MILF reported that 18 MILF members died and 14 were wounded. The MILF submitted the list of killed and wounded BIAF combatants to the media during the press conference held by the GPH and MILF Panels on 31 January 2015 in Kuala Lumpur (see attachment). An undetermined number of BIFF combatants were killed. There are also preliminary reports of a number of civilians killed and wounded. Informed of the ongoing firefight involving the troops of the PNP–SAF and BIAF–MILF in Tukanalipao and noting that no prior coordination was made by the PNP-SAF to them, the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of both the Government and the MILF immediately undertook steps to halt the fighting and prevent further escalation of the violence. The CCCH formed a “Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team” together with the International Monitoring Team (IMT) with the objective of reinstating the ceasefire, separating the contending forces, evacuating the casualties and extricating the fatalities, and providing practical assistance to the affected civilians and communities.

The following narration chronicles the actions taken on 25 January 2015 by the GPH and MILF CCCHs, the

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composite Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team, and the Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). The AHJAG is the body tasked with coordinating the two parties in relation to law enforcement operations in areas with considerable presence of the MILF while the CCCH is mandated to coordinate the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in order to prevent hostilities between the parties. II. Chronology of events:

First notice of the firefight received by the GPH-AHJAG At 5:37 AM of January 25, BGen Manolito Orense, Chairman of the GPH-AHJAG, received a call from PDir Getulio P. Napenas, Jr., SAF Commander, asking him to inform and coordinate with the MILF (through the MILF-AHJAG) that the PNP-SAF would conduct an operation in a few minutes. BGen Orense told PDir Napenas that he would try to coordinate with Atty. Abdul Dataya, Chairman of the MILF-AHJAG, despite the very short notice. Before BGen Orense could establish contact with Atty. Abdul Dataya, at 5:42 AM, PDir Napenas called again to say that they were withdrawing and asked if they could be given assistance. At 5:47 AM, BGen Orense called up the 601st Bde Commander Col Melquiades Feliciano and instructed him to coordinate with local MILF commanders in order to halt the firing, and to provide assistance to the withdrawing PNP-SAF troops. At 5:53 AM, BGen Orense sent an SMS message to PDir Napenas, which says:

“09175120085 – sir paki coordinate lang ke col mel feliciano, 601bde cmdr re your withdrawal para maalalayan nila kyo from the milf.”

Contact was established with Atty. Dataya at 7:31 AM, when he returned the calls and text messages of BGen Orense. BGen Orense asked him if he could take action on the situation. Atty. Dataya said he would immediately call up BIAF Headquarters in Camp Darapanan. Communication between the two AHJAG chairs continued. First notice of the firefight to the GPH-CCCH from the MILF-CCCH The ceasefire mechanism of the Government was first made aware of the ongoing encounter between government and MILF troops by Rasid Ladiasan, Chair of the MILF-CCCH, via SMS sent to BGen Carlito Galvez, Chair of the GPH-CCCH, and its Head of Secretariat, Director Carlos Sol. At that time, BGen Galvez and Dir. Sol were in Lanao province accompanying the members of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) for a site visit1 to Camp Bushra, an identified camp of the MILF. Ladiasan’s message, received at 6:38 AM, said:

“Salam bro, firefight erupted between the AFP and the

1 The visit to Camp Bushra was part of the

IDB’s activities in preparation for undertaking its mandate of overseeing the process of decommissioning of MILF combatants and weapons, as provided for in the Annex on Normalization. The IDB is composed of three foreigners and four Filipinos. Camp Bushra is also among the six identified MILF camps that would be “transformed into peaceful and productive communities” also under the Annex on Normalization.

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105BC at Tukanalipao, Mamasapano. The AFP troops moved in without any coordination and this is difficult to control to avoid encounters between our forces when there is no coordination. This is clearly disregarding and violating the ceasefire. Now, with that situation the only option is to ceasefire otherwise it will escalate further”.

The GPH-CCCH thereupon inquired with the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, the 601st Infantry Brigade, G-3 of the 6th Infantry Division, and the Police Provincial Office (PPO) Maguindanao, to verify the information received from the MILF-CCCH. Contacts from the military units confirmed that a firefight was indeed ongoing, but they denied involvement of military troops. The PPO-Maguindanao in turn informed the GPH-CCCH that troops belonging to the PNP-SAF were involved in the encounter, their mission being to apprehend Zulkipli Bin Hir, alias “Marwan/Madz,” and Basit Usman. Five minutes later, or at 6:42 AM, Mr. Ladiasan sent another text message to Dir. Sol, saying:

“We have to ceasefire bro before its too late. Ano kaya bro kung puntahan natin sa area baka may staff kayo kasama at IMT bro ma invite mo sila” (We have to ceasefire, brother, before it is too late. What if we go to the area, you and your staff. Also the IMT, you can invite them.)

Organization of the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team At 7:30 AM, Dir. Sol called up Mr. William Hovland, Chief Operations Officer of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), to invite the IMT to join the CCCH in forming a “Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team” whose mission will be to negotiate a ceasefire, separate the two contending forces, assist in the evacuation of casualties, assess the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and help stabilize the situation. BGen Galvez and Dir. Sol immediately left Iligan City. BGen Galvez proceeds to the Tactical Command Post (TCP) in Awang, Maguindanao to meet with MGen Edmundo Pangilinan, Commander of 6th ID, and GPH-AHJAG Chair BGen Orense. At 7:33 AM, BGen Galvez sent a text message to GPH Panel Chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer to inform her of the developing situation. At 9:00 AM, the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team composed of representatives from GPH-CCCH, MILF-CCCH, Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post (JCMP) posted in Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, and the IMT, assembled at the IMT Headquarters in Cotabato City. They then proceeded to Barangay Kuloy, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao to meet with Ustadz Zacaria Goma, Base Commander of the 105th BC, BIAF-MILF, and Ustadz Wahid Tundok, Base Commander of the 118th BC, BIAF-MILF. Brgy. Kuloy is around 60 kilometers away from Cotabato City. The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team drew out a plan on how to convince the PNP-SAF and the BIAF-MILF to declare a ceasefire and end the hostilities. En route, at 10:34 AM, BGen Galvez texted his counterpart, Mr. Ladiasan, the following:

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“We already gave advise to the PNP to ceasefire. Request 105th BC to ceasefire also”

Ladiasan contacted the two MILF base commanders and arranged to meet in Kuloy in order to work on the implementation of ceasefire. Meeting with BIAF Commanders; Effecting the Ceasefire The Joint Ceasefire crisis team arrived in Brgy. Kuloy at around 11:30 AM. Ustadz Wahid Tundok arrived at around 12 noon from his place in Sitio Tatapan, Brgy. Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao while minutes later Ustadz Zacaria Goma arrived from Lapok in Shariff Aguak. The meeting with the BIAF Commanders began past 12 noon at Ustadz Goma’s residence. There, the group agreed to immediately effect the cessation of hostilities, and allow the passage of the PNP-SAF from the encounter site to safe areas located in Tuka, Mamasapano. It was agreed that Commander Wahid will work on the withdrawal of the troops of the 105th Base Command away from the encounter site. The goal was to create a reasonable gap between the two contending forces, and allow the evacuation of casualties.

Members of the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team meet at the

residence of Ustadz Zakaria Goma in Brgy. Kuloy.

The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team was divided into two groups. The first group, to be led by Ustadz Wahid Tundok and his men, was to proceed to the actual encounter site in Tukanalipao to inform BIAF sub-commanders of the results of the meeting, i.e. the agreement for a ceasefire, as well as to implement the repositioning of both forces. The second group, composed of MILF-CCCH Chair Rasid Ladiasan; Ronnie Arap and Dave Jungco of the GPH-CCCH Secretariat; Butch Malang and Toks Upham of the MILF-CCCH Secretariat; Suharto Elhad of the JCMP-Kitango; and Mr. Hovland of the IMT, all of whom were unarmed, were assigned to negotiate with officers of the Philippine Army and the SAF in Tuka, Mamasapano where a tactical command post had been established by the PNP and AFP. Each group proceeded to their respective areas to start their mission, while Ustadz Goma stayed in his house in Brgy. Kuloy. To ensure safety and coordination in their movements2, BGen Galvez informed Rasid Ladiasan that MGen Pangilinan was already aware of the movement of the Team to the area of the 105th BC and the 45th IB. On the other hand, Mr. Ladiasan updated Dir. Sol that their group was moving towards the 45th IB while Ustadz Wahid’s group is working on the pull-out of the 105th BC sub-commanders and men. His text message said:

“Papunta na kami sa military sa 45IB sila Wahid mag pull-out tropa ng 105BC, kami

2 All activities of the Crisis Team were also

relayed to the Bde Commander of the 1st

Mechanized Inf Bde, 601st Bde and the OIC,

PNP PRO ARMM for their information and guidance.

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naman with IMT sa military para tumulong maextricate PNP SAF. Paalis na kami sa kuloy sa base ni Zacaria Goma. Paki inform lang wag ma alarm sa bahay ni Goma marami tropa security nya yon”.

Meanwhile, BGen Galvez arrived at the TCP in Camp Awang at around 12:10 PM and met with MGen Pangilinan and BGen Orense to assess the situation in Mamasapano. The second group arrived at Tuka, at the position of the 45th IB at 12:55 PM. The group relayed to PSup Henry Mangaldan (Bn Cmdr, 4th Bn, PNP-SAF) and PSI Michael John Mangahis (Bn Comdr, 3rd Bn. PNP-SAF) and LtCol Romeo Bautista III of the 45th IB the results of the meeting in Kuloy. During this time, sporadic gunfire could be heard from the direction of Tukanalipao. The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team learned from Ustadz Wahid that his group came underfire as they moved into the area to assist in effecting the ceasefire. About 15 minutes later, however, while the PNP-SAF was disseminating the call for a ceasefire by cellular phone, radio message, and personal contact with the troops on the ground, gunshots were again heard coming from three different directions. The 2nd group of the Crisis Team quickly took cover at the roadside near the banana trees at the side of the irrigation canal. They stayed there waiting for the go signal of Ustadz Tundok that they can already leave Tuka to proceed to the encounter site in Tukanalipao.

At 1:15 PM, the second group received a radio call from Ustadz Tundok advising that the other members of the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team can

already enter the encounter area to assess the situation and determine what other assistance can be given to help resolve the problem. The second group thereafter pulled out from Tuka and proceeded to the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Mamasapano Mayor Benzhar Ampatuan to request assistance from the Mayor and the Barangay Chairman of Tukanalipao.

Members of the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team take cover

near a banana grove after hearing gunshots in Brgy. Tuka.

While still at the TCP in Awang, at 2:04 PM, BGen Galvez called Chair Coronel-Ferrer to update her on the situation and the steps the CCCH were taking. Together with MGen Pangilinan, BGen Galvez left Awang shortly after the call to proceed to the TCP at the Headquarters of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade at the Provincial. Meanwhile, at around 2:20 PM, BGen Orense received a message from Atty. Dataya assuring him that orders to all

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MILF commanders not to move had already been given by the BIAF Chief of Staff. At 2:30 PM, Atty. Dataya said that the MILF-CCCH was already in the encounter site. Around 3:00 PM, BGen Galvez and MGen Pangilinan arrived at the TCP in Shariff Aguak to closely monitor the situation. Entry to Tukalanipao The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team attempted to enter the encounter area in Tukalanipao at 3:30 PM. However, they observed movement of armed groups in the area and could not push through. At this point, members of the community had reported to the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team that there were 32 cadavers in the area. This information was forwarded to PCSupt Napenas and PSSupt Armilla, OIC-Regional Director of the PNP PRO-ARMM, who at that time were at the TCP in Shariff Aguak.

Members of the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team and barangay officials of Tukanalipao prepare to enter the encounter site

and plan the retrieval operation.

At 4:00 PM, gunfire could no longer be heard. By this time, members of the BIAF 105th BC had completely pulled out of the area. This allowed both groups of the Crisis Team, together with Tukanalipao barangay officials, to enter the site. They found cadavers scattered on the ground and in the

nearby river. The group also noticed a group of armed men in the immediate vicinity who were later identified as belonging to the BIFF under Commanders Bisaya and Indal. The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team then returned to the municipal hall and informed the Mayor about the situation and requested for the equipment needed to retrieve the cadavers.

By 5:20 PM, the Crisis Team went back to the engagement site with two Kuliglig tractors and an ambulance to start the retrieval operation. It was decided that the cadavers will be brought by the Crisis Team to the highway where PNP-SAF officers were waiting. While retrieving the cadavers, the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team heard gunshots from the northeast direction more or less two (2) kilometers away from the encounter site. At about the same time, Dir. Sol received a phone call from BGen Galvez informing him that there remains another group of PNP-SAF being fired upon by an armed group nearby. Upon communication, Ladiasan of the MILF-CCCH assured BGen Galvez that no troops from the BIAF remained in the area, and that the SAF were now engaging the BIFF.

With this development, the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team went back to the tactical command post in Tuka at 5:40 PM. There, LTC Romeo Bautista, CO of the 45th IB explained to the MILF-CCCH the situation and the need to facilitate the rescue of the surviving PNP-SAF more or less one kilometer north-east of Tukanalipao. Elements of the 6th ID Reconnaissance Company were to assist in extricating the said PNP-SAF from the area. Rasid Ladiasan of the MILF-CCCH agreed and advised all BIAF forces nearby not to hamper the movement of the PNP-

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SAF. Twenty-eight3 (28) surviving PNP-SAF were successfully extricated by the Army by dawn of the following day.

LTC Romeo Bautista of the 45

th IB informs members of

the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team that another group of PNP-SAF remain in the area. They agree to cooperate on the extrication of these men.

The LGU of Mamasapano at 9:30 PM informed the Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team that five (5) cadavers of PNP-SAF officers had been turned over to the PNP-SAF.

3 Of the 28 men, 11 were wounded. One of the

wounded men died en route to the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team decided to suspend the retrieval operations around this time due to darkness and security concerns. The retrieval operations were resumed at 5:30 AM the next morning, and were completed sometime in the afternoon of the same day. The Joint Ceasefire Crisis Team was thereafter deactivated and its members returned to the CCCH and IMT offices in Cotabato City at around 6:00 PM of 26 January 2015.

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