OPLAN EXODUS: The SAF 44 Documentary
Summary
TLDROn January 24, 2015, the Philippine National Police's elite SAF unit executed OPLAN EXODUS, a high-stakes mission to capture notorious terrorists Marwan and Usman in Mamasapano. Despite initial success, the operation turned tragic as the SAF commandos were ambushed, leading to a firefight with local armed groups and the loss of 44 brave officers. The aftermath sparked a national debate on responsibility, the peace process, and the sacrifices of the fallen heroes.
Takeaways
- šļø The operation took place on the night of January 24, 2015, involving 390 SAF commandos on a classified mission.
- š¹ The Special Action Force (SAF) is an elite unit of the Philippine National Police, trained for operations like raids, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism.
- šÆ The mission's objective was to capture two high-profile terrorists, Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkifli Bin Hir (alias Marwan), in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines.
- š Prior intelligence reports from the United States indicated the presence of the terrorists in the marshlands of Mamasapano.
- šµļøāāļø Previous attempts to capture Marwan since 2010 had been unsuccessful, with the mission code-named OPLAN EXODUS being the latest effort.
- š The operation was meticulously planned with different Special Action Companies (SACs) assigned specific roles and positions.
- š¾ The terrain was a significant obstacle, with marshlands, cornfields, and rivers complicating the mission's execution.
- āļø The SAF encountered unexpected resistance from local armed groups, including the BIFF and MILF, which were not informed of the operation.
- š Communication and coordination issues led to delays and confusion among the SAF units, impacting the mission's success.
- š« A firefight ensued, with the SAF commandos surrounded and outnumbered, leading to a desperate fight for survival.
- š Reinforcements were eventually called, but the situation was already dire, with the army's involvement further complicating the scenario.
- š Investigations after the incident revealed a series of command failures and political involvement that may have compromised the operation.
- šļø The incident raised questions about the MILF's role and their proximity to the terrorists, as well as the ceasefire's effectiveness.
- š The operation resulted in the tragic loss of 44 SAF commandos, sparking national outrage and calls for accountability.
Q & A
What was the date and time when the SAF commandos began their mission to Mamasapano?
-The mission, known as OPLAN EXODUS, commenced at about 11 p.m. on January 24, 2015.
What is the Special Action Force (SAF) and what is their role?
-The Special Action Force (SAF) is an elite unit of the Philippine National Police, trained to handle operations such as raids, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism.
Why was the mission to capture Marwan and Usman considered classified?
-The mission was classified due to its sensitive nature and the potential for conflict in an area with ongoing peace talks and ceasefires.
Who were the two main targets of the SAF's mission in Mamasapano?
-The two main targets were Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, who was on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.
What was the role of the 84th Special Action Company (SAC) in the mission?
-The 84th SAC, composed of 41 commandos, was assigned to capture Marwan and Usman and was the first to advance in the operation.
What challenges did the SAF commandos face in the marshlands of Mamasapano?
-The SAF commandos faced challenges such as unfamiliar terrain, vast areas of cornfields, deep rivers, and the presence of several armed groups, including the BIFF and the MILF.
What was the significance of the term 'Mike one, bingo' used by the SAF commandos?
-'Mike one, bingo' was a code used to communicate that the primary target, Marwan, had been neutralized.
Why were the SAF commandos unable to unite with the 55th SAC for their exit?
-The SAF commandos were unable to unite with the 55th SAC for their exit because they were surrounded by over 1,000 combined members of the MILF, BIFF, and other armed groups.
What was the role of the Army's 6th Infantry Division in the aftermath of the firefight?
-The Army's 6th Infantry Division was sent as reinforcements and later used white phosphorus for cover and to mark their location for artillery support, which helped to end the firefight.
What controversies arose after the Mamasapano incident?
-Controversies included the involvement of suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima in the operation, the exclusion of Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina from overseeing the operation, and questions about the role of the MILF in the incident.
What was the final outcome of the Mamasapano operation in terms of casualties?
-The operation resulted in the tragic loss of 44 SAF commandos, with many receiving fatal shots to the head, suggesting a brutal close-range attack.
Outlines
š”ļø Special Action Force Mission: OPLAN EXODUS
On January 24, 2015, the Philippine National Police's elite unit, the Special Action Force (SAF), embarked on a high-stakes mission, OPLAN EXODUS, to capture notorious terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman, who were hiding in the marshlands of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines. The mission involved 390 commandos, with the 84th Special Action Company (SAC) leading the operation. The SAF, known for their expertise in raids, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism, had a history of thwarting coup attempts and participating in significant operations. Despite previous failed attempts to capture Marwan, the operation was carried out with confidence, but the unfamiliar terrain and the presence of armed groups like the BIFF and MILF added to the complexity and danger of the mission.
š¹ Unfamiliar Terrain and Unexpected Delays
The SAF's operation faced immediate challenges due to the difficult terrain and the need to adjust the planned route, causing delays. The militant groups BIFF and MILF, based in Mindanao, were unaware of the operation due to its classified nature. The BIFF sought an independent Islamic state, while the MILF aimed for autonomy for the Moro people. Peace talks between the government and the MILF were ongoing, with a ceasefire in place. The operation commenced at 11 pm, with the 41 commandos of the Seaborne team led by Supt. Raymond Train advancing first. However, they encountered improvised traps and were alerted to the presence of armed groups, leading to a firefight and the escape of one of the targets, Abdul Basit Usman.
š« Surrounded and Ambushed: The Fight for Survival
After successfully neutralizing Marwan, the SAF commandos found themselves surrounded by over 1,000 members of the MILF, BIFF, and other armed groups. The 55th SAC, delayed by the terrain, formed a defensive perimeter in the cornfields of Barangay Tukanalipao. As dawn broke, they were forced to retreat and find a different exit route, only to be surrounded again. Despite continuous calls for reinforcements, the remaining SAF units were met with gunfire and had to retreat. The situation reached the SAF director, Getulio NapeƱas Jr., who informed the Army's 6th Infantry Division Commander about the operation, leading to the deployment of reinforcements and the eventual involvement of the MILF in the firefight.
šļø Ceasefire Breach and Command Structure Controversy
The aftermath of the firefight revealed a complex situation with the ceasefire potentially breached and a command structure under scrutiny. It was discovered that former President Benigno Aquino III had allowed his suspended friend, former PNP Chief Alan Purisima, to oversee the operation, despite ongoing corruption investigations against him. Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, who should have had authority over the operation, was excluded and only informed after the incident. The blame game among officials intensified, with questions arising about the MILF's role and the proximity of Marwan to their territory.
šļø Investigations, Debates, and the Legacy of the Fallen 44
Investigations following the incident uncovered a series of missteps and controversial decisions that led to the tragic loss of 44 SAF commandos. Autopsy reports suggested that many were shot at close range, possibly by snipers, and a video circulated on social media showed brutal killings. The MILF conducted their own investigation, claiming they lost 17 members and that the SAF fired first. The Senate probe and public opinion debated whether it was a mis-encounter or a massacre, with differing views from government officials. The incident remains a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the SAF commandos, raising questions about accountability and the pursuit of justice.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”SAF
š”classified mission
š”OPLAN EXODUS
š”Zulkifli Bin Hir
š”MILF
š”BIFF
š”ceasefire
š”white phosphorus
š”Fallen 44
š”massacre
Highlights
On January 24, 2015, 390 SAF commandos embarked on a classified mission called OPLAN EXODUS.
The SAF is an elite unit of the Philippine National Police trained for operations like raids, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism.
The mission's objective was to capture two most wanted terrorists, Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines.
Marwan, a Malaysian terrorist, was involved in numerous attacks and plots in Southeast Asia, including a plot against the Pope's visit to the Philippines.
Previous attempts to capture Marwan since 2010 had been unsuccessful, with most missions aborted and Marwan escaping.
The 84th SAC, Seaborne, composed of 41 commandos, was tasked with capturing Marwan and Usman as the first to advance.
The 55th SAC, a blocking force of 36 commandos, was to provide primary support and security for Seaborne.
The mission faced challenges due to unfamiliar terrain, vast cornfields, deep rivers, and the presence of armed groups like BIFF and MILF.
The MILF was not informed of the operation due to its classified nature, leading to a potential misunderstanding during the encounter.
At 11 pm, Oplan Exodus commenced with Seaborne advancing and other SACs waiting for the right time to move.
Seaborne successfully neutralized Marwan, taking a DNA sample and sending a 'Mike one, bingo' message to command.
Seaborne and the 55th SAC were surrounded by over 1,000 members of the MILF, BIFF, and other armed groups, leading to a fight for survival.
The Army's 6th Infantry Division was informed about the operation but did not receive a request for reinforcements initially.
The Army used white phosphorus for cover and as markers for artillery, minimizing the risk of friendly fire during the firefight.
Investigations revealed that former President Aquino allowed his suspended friend and PNP Chief Purisima to control the operation.
The Senate probe questioned the MILF's alleged role in providing a haven for terrorists, which was denied by the MILF.
Autopsy reports indicated that most SAF commandos received fatal shots to the head, suggesting sniper involvement and close-range executions.
Transcripts
10 p.m, night of January 24, 2015
about 390 SAF commandos are on their way to anĀ unfamiliar territory
to carry out a classifiedĀ mission
a mission, which the SAF are theĀ most capable of
The Special Action ForceĀ or SAF is an elite unit of the Philippine NationalĀ Police
The members were chosen among a number ofĀ participants
who had undergone a tough selectionĀ procedure
the qualified members then receivedĀ special and intense training
to handleĀ operations such as raids, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism
their involvement to end coup d'etat attempts in the late 1980's
and the Zamboanga Siege in 2013 are just some of theĀ many accomplishments
of the Special Action Force.
months before this mission, an intelligence reportĀ Ā
allegedly from the United States, revealedĀ that two of the most wanted terrorists
in several countries, are currently hiding
in theĀ marshlands of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines.
the objective of the SAF is to infiltrateĀ
and capture terrorists Abdul Basit Usman
and the main target, one of FBI's Most WantedĀ TerroristsĀ
Zulkifli Bin Hir alias MarwanĀ
Marwan is a Malaysian terrorist who specializesĀ in bomb making
together with his group, Marwan was involved in a number of attacks andĀ plots in Southeast Asia
including a reported plot targeting the Pope during his visit inĀ the Philippines
fortunately, it was averted.Ā Ā
this mission however, was not new to the SAF
efforts to capture Marwan can be dated back toĀ 2010
wherein nine consecutive attempts have beenĀ made but none were successful
most missions wereĀ aborted and in some cases, Marwan, was able toĀ escape
but this time, officials responsible ofĀ the operation were confident that the outcome
would be different
with this confidence in mind, the SAF commandos prepares as they getĀ closer to the site
to carry out the mission
a mission that will forever be rememberedĀ by Filipinos
A mission named: OPLAN EXODUS
divided as Special Action Companies, theĀ SAF commandos will follow a planned routeĀ Ā
and will position at assigned locations on the map
the 84th SAC or Seaborne which is composed of 41Ā commandos
is the team assigned to capture MarwanĀ and Usman
they will be the first one to advance,Ā and will control the movement of other SACsĀ
just behind Seaborne the 55th SAC, composed of 36Ā commandos
will become the blocking force
which will serve as the primary support and security forĀ Seaborne
the remaining SACs, which are composedĀ of more than 300 SAF commandos
will serve asĀ support groups, securing the exits of both SACs
meanwhile, the 43rd SAC will position along theĀ drop-off point, securing both ends of the highway
the plan was estimated to be done at aĀ specific time
however, this was unlikely
as the terrain leading to the targetsĀ was a huge obstacle for the commandosĀ
the marshland was covered with vastĀ areas of cornfields and deep rivers
moreover,
it was not their territory
throughout the marshland, several armedĀ groups are situated at certain areas
the largest of which are the BIFF and the MILF
The BIFF is a militant organization based inĀ Mindanao
seeking to have an Independent Islamic State for the Muslim minority
meanwhile, the MILF also a group in Mindanao, is an organization which
seeks to separate from the central government andĀ have an autonomous region for the Moro peopleĀ
fortunately, the government and theĀ MILF are currently in an ongoing peaceĀ talks
prohibiting both parties from doingĀ aggressive actions, basically, a ceasefireĀ Ā
however, due to the mission being classified,
the MILF were not informed of the operation
At about 11 pm of JanuaryĀ 24
Oplan Exodus
Commenced
the 41 commandos of Seaborne ledĀ by Supt. Raymond Train
advances
the remaining SACs are waiting for the right time to departĀ Ā
as their movements depended on the movementĀ of Seaborne
however, due to an unfamiliar terrain, and the strong current of the rivers
Seaborne did minor changes to the planned route
this caused a delay in the departure of theĀ 55th SAC and the remaining support groups
Marwan's hut was covered with improvised traps
Meanwhile hidden from sight,Ā
Abdul Basit Usman, escapes
Unfortunately, the gunshotsĀ awoke the armed groups in the area
Seaborne had successfully neutralized,Ā one of the world's most dangerous men
without delay, they took a DNA sample
and aĀ picture was taken
a SAF commando then sent a text message to the command
saying "Mike one, bingo." which meant that the target was neutralizedĀ
triumph was felt among the commandos outside asĀ they've heard the word bingo
But that triumph won't last
As Seaborne attempts to unite with the 55th SAC for the exit
they were already surrounded
Meanwhile, the 55th SAC which was delayedĀ for hours, attempts to reach their designated waypoint
as they were navigating through theĀ cornfields of Barangay TukanalipaoĀ
they heard men shouting around the areaĀ
immediately they formed a defensive perimeter
across the river they saw MILF members gathering near the bridge
the 55th SAC waited
their only cover was theĀ cornfield and the darkness
but not for long
as dawn breaks, the 77 commandosĀ of the 55th SAC and SeaborneĀ Ā
are to be surrounded by over 1,000 combined members
of the MILF, BIFF, and other Private Armed Groups
at the location of Seaborne, it was a fight for survivalĀ Ā
thinking they were unmatched by the unknownĀ number of armed groups shooting at them
they decided to retreat to the river and took aĀ different exit route to avoid the enemies
but then again, they got surrounded
during this time the SAF commandos of theĀ 55th SAC and Seaborne
continuously called for reinforcements
this led the remainingĀ Special Action Companies to advance
but then eventually retreated as they were metĀ with gunfire
at the same time the situation reached SAF director Getulio NapeƱas Jr.
the commander who oversees the operation
at about 6 am, NapeƱas sends a message toĀ the Army's 6th Infantry Division CommanderĀ Ā
informing him about the operation
however, according to the commander, he didĀ receive a message
but it did not mention the need for reinforcements
fortunately,Ā the said commander, Major General PangilinanĀ Ā
sent out a reinforcement team after details ofĀ the ongoing firefight have circulated
moreover, Pangilinan orders the brigade general ofĀ the AFP to notify the MILF of the situationĀ Ā
which again was in an ongoingĀ peace talks with the government
at about 8:30 am, the army arrivedĀ Ā
according to the army, they saw the remainingĀ SAF commandos just sitting on the highwayĀ Ā
the army then asked for coordinates from two SAFĀ commanders to locate the 55th SAC and Seaborne
unfortunately, they don't know
afterĀ figuring out the location, the army advances
but the remaining SAF members reportedlyĀ refused to go with them
according to a report, there was no command telling the SAF what to do
at about 9: 00 am, the army received a call fromĀ Seaborne
informing them that they are on a hillĀ in barangay tukanalipao, surrounded by the MILF
However, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Catapang ordered his men to not engage the MILF
because theyĀ don't want to endanger the ongoing peace process
the army then proceeded to extract them
but along the way they were also metĀ with gunfire
and forced them to retaliate
the firefight lasted for several hours
until the army decided to deploy white phosphorus at about 5:30 pm
the white phosphorus are used for cover
and as markers for the artillery team to calculate their location
minimizing the risk of a friendly fire
as the armed groups saw theĀ white phosphorus
at about 6 pm, the firefight stopped
and the MILF announcesĀ that their fighters had withdrawn from the areaĀ Ā
shortly after, the search for the 77 commandos began
but the story goes deeper than itĀ seemed
investigations done after the incident, uncovered something behind the people responsible
of the operation
it was revealed that former President and alsoĀ the commander-in-chief Benigno Aquino III
allowed his close friend former PNP Chief Alan PurisimaĀ to participate
and allegedly gave him control of the operation
however, the saidĀ PNP Chief was suspended at that timeĀ Ā
currently being investigatedĀ for an alleged graft caseĀ Ā
even so Aquino entrusted him the operation,Ā along with the SAF Director Getulio NapeƱas Jr.
moreover, it was reported that DeputyĀ Director General Leonardo EspinaĀ Ā
was supposed to be the one who had theĀ authority to oversee the entire operationĀ Ā
but due to an unknown reason, he was excluded
andĀ was only informed on the morning of January 25
with the number of revelations being brought toĀ light, the officials responsible of the operationĀ Ā
fell into a blame game, takingĀ turns in blaming one another
in regards to the MILF questions arise as to whyĀ Marwan was near if not within their territoryĀ Ā
during the senate probe on theĀ incident Senate Majority Leader
Alan Peter Cayetano, fired questions directedĀ to the MILF Ā
asking about their alleged roleĀ in providing a haven for the terrorists
butĀ all of these were denied by the MILF
insisting that Marwan took refuge within the BIFF territory
this was supported by Chief Peace Adviser Teresita Deles
saying thatĀ the MILF already ended ties with the terrorists
in a different investigation,Ā autopsy reports done by the PNP
revealed that most members received a fatalĀ shot to the head
this can be done by the snipersĀ Ā
however, this also suggests that some wereĀ shot up close
this theory was confirmed whenĀ a video circulated through social media
showedĀ a brutal killing of one SAF commando up close
besides the investigation done by theĀ government, the MILF conducted their own
according to their investigation, the MILF lostĀ 17 of their members and 3 civilians had died
in regards to the Oplan Exodus, the MILF saidĀ that they were not aware of the operation
and even with the ceasefire prohibiting both partiesĀ from doing aggressive actions
they said that theyĀ were not able to identify the SAF commandos
and claimed that the said commandos fired at them first
these claims led people to debate if this wasĀ a case of a mis-encounter or just pure massacreĀ Ā
the senate which condemned the manner of howĀ the SAF members were killed
labeled theĀ incident as massacre
but the Commission on Human Rights Chairperson disagrees with themĀ Ā
stating that "categorizing theĀ incident as a massacre is excessive."
The tragic events of January 25, 2015
cannot andĀ will not be forgotten by the filipino people
during that day, families lost aĀ father, a brother, a son, and a hero
thus questions and outrage remain
Who was at fault?Ā Who is to be blamed?
and has justice already been given?
but one thing is certain and will surely beĀ remembered
the bravery and sacrifice
of the Fallen 44.
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