Was the US involved?

An officer of the Special Action Force (SAF) revealed in an interview in Zamboanga that Oplan Exodus was a US directed project from start to finish. The SAF officer said the US provided the training facility in Zamboanga and gave the necessary logistics for the operation.

Several factors are established. US helicopters and US soldiers did the extraction of the casualties from Mamasapano. Two FBI agents were said to be waiting in General Santos to receive the cut index finger of Marwan which was immediately flown to California. A farmer reported seeing a white Caucasian male lying dead at the encounter site. An American was with SAF Commander General Getulio Napenas at the command post at Sharif Aguak. The Zamboanga SAF officer added that an American named Allan Konz was the person in command of the operation.

As expected, the US Embassy denied participation of US forces in the Mamasapano operation.

FVR blames P-Noy

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, speaking at ceremonies in Intramuros marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Manila, told SAF Director General Getulio Napenas to stop blaming himself for the Mamasapano massacre and instead “throw the real blame at higher officials.”

Ramos lauded the bravery of Napenas but advised him to stop being the scapegoat. Ramos was the co-founder of the SAF in 1983.

Ramos said that Secretaries Roxas and Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff General Catapang should have informed the President of what was going on in Mamasapano. But it is suspected that they did inform the President though they later denied it to absolve the President from blame as the one in full command of the project.

Ramos blamed the Aquino Administration of hemming and hawing on the Mamasapano massacre.

7 bishops

Seven senior bishops have asked President Aquino to step down due to his mishandling of the Oplan Exodus which resulted in 44 SAF troopers being killed.

The 7  bishops are Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz of Zamboanga, Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla of Davao, Bishop Filomeno Bactol of Biliran, Bishop Emeritus Ted Bacani of Novaliches and Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of Cebu.

At a mass at Cardinal Vidal’s private chapel, the following religious leaders were present: Pastor Art Corpus of the United Church of Manila, Bishop Butch Belgica of the Christian Bishops and Ministers of the Philippines (CBMP), CBMP secretary Dr. Jose Socito, Kit Tatad and Norberto Gonzales.

One source connected with the group admitted that they didn’t expect P-Noy to step down. The AFP spokesman said any coup plot will fail because it has no military support.

More clashes

Suspected NPA rebels burned construction equipment being used in a government road project in Bongabong, Nueva Ecija on Friday.

The Matti Police Station in Davao Oriental was raided by suspected NPA rebels. One policeman and three soldiers were killed. Reinforcements were met by land mines in the road.

Eight persons were killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. At least 2 Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed.

Bohol radio anchor killed

Maurito Lim, 71, radio broadcaster of Station DYRD in Tagbilaran was shot dead by a lone gunman who escaped on a motorcycle. Lim is the 32nd journalist killed under the Aquino administration.

Malacanang condemned the killing as usual.

Constitutional Change needed

Former Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia in his testimony before the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and provision of laws said that “Congress has no power to create the Bangsamoro.

“Unless and until the Constitution is amended or revised by the Filipino people, Congress should not and cannot enact the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law” he declared.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is palpably and incorrigibly unconstitutional,” he added.

He cited Fr. Bernas who said “Is it then the sense of the committee that besides recognizing the Cordilleras and Muslim Mindanao, as autonomous regions, Congress is prohibited from creating other autonomous regions?”

Chairman Nolledo answered in the affirmative.

Gina’s birthday

Pangasinan Rep. Gina Vera Perez de Venecia celebrated her birthday with a lunch party at Sampaguita Gardens.

About 500 guests attended led by President Joseph Estrada and wife Loi, Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Secretaries Albert del Rosario, Armin Luistro and Dinky Soliman, Senators Cynthia Villar, Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara, Reps. Neri Colminares, Miro Quimbo, Leni Robredo, Eileen Ermita Buhain, Zenaida Ongpin, Mylene Garcia Albano, former Congresswoman Emily Lopez, Tessie Sy Coson, Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella and leaders from Pangasinan.

Tidbits

President Aquino signed into law the bill granting tax exemption to employees who receive 13th month pay and other bonuses up to P 82,000.

A 32-year-old man was arrested for raping a 72-year-old woman in T’boli, South Cotabato.

City of Dreams donated P10 million to the families of the SAF 44.

$14 million Ebola funds in Sierra Leone are unaccounted for.

PNP medico-legal report — 27 of the 44 dead SAF troopers “may tama sa ulo (gunshots in the head).”