Colonel once relieved over Al Barka clash named chief of elite Army unit

MANILA, Philippines - A military officer who was once relieved from his post over the bloody Al Barka clash in 2011 has been named chief of an elite Army unit.

 

Col. Alexander Macario, who was chief of Special Operations Task Force Basilan during the Al Barka incident, was appointed commander of the Light Reaction Regiment, the Army's lead counter-terrorism unit.

 

Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Macario will assume his new post on April 26.

 

Macario will succeed Brig. Gen. Danilo Pamonag, who was designated chief of the Special Operations Command last week.

 

“Colonel Macario is a well-decorated combat officer whose vast experiences leading people in the field, coupled with his effective leadership qualities, have further honed and prepared him to assume higher command positions,” Burgos said.

 

Nineteen soldiers were killed and 14 others were injured in an encounter between Army troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members at Sitio Baisung, Barangay Cambug in Al Barka town on Oct. 18, 2011.

 

Macario was relieved from his post by then Army chief Arturo Ortiz to allow him to face the investigation on the lapses committed during the encounter.

 

He and three other Special Forces officers were charged with violation of the Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman), 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) and 84 (willful or neglect loss, damage or wrongful disposition).

 

A military court cleared Macario of the charges in 2012 due to lack of evidence.