Report on friendly airstrike mishap out soon

MANILA, Philippines - Military probers tapped to conduct an investigation into an airstrike that mistakenly killed 10 soldiers in Marawi City are now finalizing their report for submission to and proper action of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, AFP Inspector General and head of the probe, declined to discuss the result of their investigation until it is submitted to AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año.

“Let us wait for the chief of staff to talk about it when the report reaches him,” Valencia told The STAR.

Immediately after the “friendly fire” incident on May 31, Año ordered the creation of a board of inquiry, designating Valencia as head.

Ten soldiers were killed and seven others wounded when a wayward bomb dropped by an SF260 turboprop plane on the Maute-Islamic State terrorists’ position in Marawi City landed and exploded in the military’s location.

In an initial action after the accidental airstrike, Año ordered the unnamed pilot of the plane to be placed under administrative control and not allowed to fly pending investigation.

Part of the investigation was to interview servicemen of units involved, including those in the Philippine Air Force and those directing the air operations from the ground.

“Aside from the wounded soldiers, certain members of the units that were involved in the operations will be interviewed,” AFP spokesman Gen. Restituto Padilla said.