MANILA, Philippines – Did a police intelligence officer “wine and dine” with army commanders the night before “Oplan Exodus” to distract them from a top-secret police operation?

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr said on Tuesday, March 24, he could not confirm reports, but added that it’s something the police force itself wants clarified.

“We will find out and we will give you updates,” said Cerbo in an interview.

In an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, citing information he gathered from members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said army commanders were “wined and dined” by “some PNP intelligence officers” the night before a January 25 police operation “just to make sure they won’t operate.”

SAF acting director Chief Superintendent Moro Lazo said no SAF officers were involved in the supposed “wine and dine,” adding that SAF troopers would not fool their military counterparts that way.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed Trillanes’ revelation to reporters on Monday, March 23. It was Gazmin who said it was an officer from SAF who invited military ground commanders to a dinner in Koronadal City in South Cotabato. The same night, the SAF troopers entered barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano.

The office of Trillanes later clarified the senator never mentioned it was a SAF intelligence officer who “wined and dined” with military commanders.

Trillanes only said it was “PNP intelligence officers” who took army officials out the night before the operation. It was later clarified that those involved were members of the PNP’s intelligence group. 

Controversial operation

“Oplan Exodus” saw some 400 troopers from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) enter Mamasapano town in Maguindanao to neutralize bomb makers Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” and Abdul Basit Usman.

While the troopers killed Marwan, 44 members of the main effort and main support companies died during an encounter with fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and private armed groups (PAGs).

At least 67 people died as a result of the botched operation, according to the PNP – 5 civilians, 18 MILF fighters, and 44 SAF troopers. The MILF said in its own report that only 17 of their fighters died.

The clash has caused a strain between the PNP and the AFP. SAF troopers, led by its now relieved commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas, blame the military for the high death toll, supposedly because they were unable to send in artillery support in time.

But the military says they could not send in help right away since they were kept out of the loop in the high-stakes operation.

Cerbo also clarified that military and police officers mingling over drinks or food during their off days was “not abnormal.”

“I don’t want to put malice, negative connotations into these kinds of activities. On the ground, on the field, this happens. These people are friends, they know each other they are classmates,” said Cerbo.

“We respect the statement of Senator Trillanes but we want to clarify the issues. Because it appears as though there is ill intention on the part of the alleged PNP intelligence officer. We want answers too,” added the PNP spokesman. – Rappler.com