The Mamasapano clash was a shootout that took place during a police operation by the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on January 25, 2015, in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, then-undivided Maguindanao (which is now Maguindanao del Sur). The operation, codenamed Oplan Exodus, was intended to capture or kill wanted Malaysian terrorist and bomb-maker Zulkifli Abdhir and other Malaysian terrorists or high-ranking members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Originally a mission to serve arrest warrants for high-ranking terrorists, it led to the deaths of 44 members of the SAF, 17 or 18 from the MILF and BIFF, five civilians, and the death of Abdhir confirmed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the PNP at 6:30 p.m. on February 4, 2015, through a matching DNA result. Abdhir was one of FBI's most wanted terrorists. Getulio Napeñas, the relieved SAF commander, estimated about 250 deaths from his assumption that each SAF sniper may have taken down at least 20 members of the MILF, BIFF and private militias during the encounter although this was not confirmed. Napenas' estimate was also debunked by the MILF and by the local government of Mamasapano.
The mission itself was declared successful once the target was neutralized. The severity of the policemen's situation prompted the government peace panel to intervene and request a ceasefire from the MILF. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also conducted a rescue operation to save the remaining 29 SAF survivors who were encircled by the enemies.
The mission was called Oplan Exodus, initially misattributed as Oplan Wolverine by the local media. Oplan Wolverine refers to three of the other nine prior operation attempts targeting Marwan; Oplan Wolverine 1, 2, and 3 launched in December 2012, March and May 2014, respectively, by the PNP-SAF. The incident caused the Congress of the Philippines to halt the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, effectively endangering the peace process between the government and the MILF.
Incident
On Sunday, January 25, 2015, three platoons of the elite SAF police squad entered the guerrilla enclave of Tukanalipao, Mindanao, Philippines, with the goal of detaining two high-ranking Jemaah Islamiyah-affiliated, improvised-explosive-device experts, Zulkifli Abdhir (also known as Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman. The SAF troops raided the hut where they believed Marwan was located, and the man they believe to be Marwan engaged them in a firefight and was killed. The SAF initially planned to take his body for identification. However, the shooting alerted the BIFF and MILF 118th Command in the area.
The SAF just cut off a finger, took a photo, and left his body there. By 6:18 AM UTC+8 (PST), an SMS message was sent by the Commander of SAF 61D Battalion to SAF Director Getulio Napeñas that they were pinned down at coordinates 6.92489°N 124.52047°E. What followed was a bloody encounter that left 44 SAF, 18 MILF, and 5 BIFF dead.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, the FBI confirmed to the PNP that the DNA sample from the finger matched that of Marwan's brother detained in a U.S. facility. A MILF spokesman accused the SAF squads of initiating the firefight, claiming that the rebels acted in self-defense, and proposed the continuation of the peace process.
Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesman, said that his rebel group's relationship with the MILF's 105th Command headed by Ustadz Zacaria Guma is positive. "We're all family," Mama commenting on BIFF's relationship with Guma's unit. Mama said that there is no distinction between BIFF members and members of Guma's unit and claims that all of them are either relatives or friends of each other. It was reported that Guma's unit would engage other MILF units over disputes such as clan feuds. It was also reported that Guma was not on good terms with other MILF units which Guma viewed as "Munafiq", or hypocrites.
A military intelligence officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that BIFF leader Ameril Umbra Kato ordered the killing of the SAF members by his group and members of the MILF involved in the incident. The official also quoted Kato as saying “Leave no one alive and take all their firearms, ammunition, and personal belongings.” Another unnamed colonel from the Philippine Army confirmed the information and said that SAF personnel who were wounded were shot dead by BIFF members.
A private armed group led by Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan was reportedly among those involved in the killings of the SAF members. Bahnarin Ampatuan, who was also implicated in the Maguindanao massacre case, is the brother of Mamasapano mayor Benzar Ampatuan. Bahnarin and Benzar Amputuan were rivals at the 2010 Mayoral elections. Benzar expressed doubt of his brother's participation and believes that Bahnarin would not associate himself with groups like the BIFF or people like Abdul Basit Usman who attempted to kill Benzar's grandfather.
Prior operations
The Philippine National Police planned ten operations, including Oplan Exodus which was implemented on January 25, 2015, targeting bomb expert Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan. Oplan Exodus, the last of the ten operations planned by the PNP was the only operation successful in neutralizing Marwan.
Casualties
Special Action Force
A total of 44 SAF personnel were killed during the encounter. #Fallen44 became a worldwide trend on Twitter as an effort to honor the 44 slain SAF members. The SAF casualties were later dubbed as the Fallen 44. The incident saw one of the highest fatalities of government forces in a single peace time operation.
Allegations of United States Army casualties
According to a local farmer, a "blue-eyed" American soldier was among the casualties. However, the U.S. embassy later denied any involvement in the clash.
Targets
The two agencies that cooperated during the battle, the Philippine National Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, confirmed on Wednesday February 4, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. that Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan, was killed during the Mamasapano encounter based on a matching DNA test. The MILF later said that, based on an intelligence report that they had received, Marwan (Abdhir) was dead as a result of an encounter. MILF chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim said that, based on their information, Marwan who was in his nipa hut home was surrounded by SAF troops and was reported to open fire first and that SAF officers were able to shoot Marwan dead. Marwan's body was reportedly left at the hut and was immediately buried. Ebrahim also said that Abdul Basit Usman, who was also pursued by SAF troops, was able to escape.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Mohagher Iqbal said that 18 MILF personnel were killed during combat, while 14 were injured.
On the other hand, according to one MILF official, 17 of their members were killed in the clash. Then PO2 Christopher Lalan, lone survivor of the clash said, "at least 11 members of the combined forces of MILF, BIFF, and private armed groups were taken down by SAF troopers from his Company". Former PNP-SAF head Chief Supt Napenas estimates that each of his SAF snipers may have shot down at least 20 attackers in which the total casualties are 250, but this was met with skepticism since there was no bodycount and there was no acceptable level of evidence to prove his claim and that the claim itself is hard to believe. One MILF official even said that "they may have counted stones instead of bodies".
Civilians
Moro group, Suara Bangsamoro, claimed in a post-fact-finding mission report that at least 7 civilians were killed and 3 others were injured during the Mamasapano clash. Jerome Succor Aba, national spokesperson of the group, said that residents of Barangay Tukanalipao were preparing for their daily activities when SAF commandos entered the area and opened fire at the residence of the Panangulon family, resulting in the death of five-year-old child Sarah Panangulon and leaving her parents Tots and Samrah wounded. Badrudin Langalan, a farmer, was found dead hogtied at the wooden bridge in the barangay. Aba describes Langalan's body as being riddled with bullets and eyes as gouged out. Aba said that five other people were killed who were heading to the mosque in Sitio Inugog and said that based from stories of residents that the SAF was behind their deaths. "Civilians bore the brunt of the botched operations, they were made to suffer on suspicions that they are harboring terrorists. Suara calls for justice and recognition of the true victims and accountability to the police and Aquino administration," Aba said.
It was reported that Badruddin Langalan was killed by stray bullets. Badruddin's wife Sarah Langalan recalled that her husband went to charge his cellphone but never came back. 16-year-old Saat Manadal was also wounded due to stray bullets and is under the intensive care unit of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.
Aftermath
The incident sparked the internal displacement of several hundred families amidst fears of continued clashes.
The chairman of the Philippine Senate Committee on Local Government, Bongbong Marcos, stated that hearings regarding the involvement of security and armed forces provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law were halted. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also claimed that his coalition will withdraw its support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, endangering the ongoing peace process. While the Philippine House of Representatives also suspended its hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said that the lower house remained supportive of the measure, although it had been somewhat "eroded" due to the killings. He also took note that unlike in the Senate where Cayetano and JV Ejercito had withdrawn their sponsorship of the bill, no congressman had done the same, and that the measure would be passed on time.
The PNP relieved Special Action Force head Director Getulio Napeñas of his post following the clash in Maguindanao; he was replaced by deputy SAF director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño. At a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas announced the establishment of a board of inquiry tasked with the investigation of the police encounter in Maguindanao. The PNP released the board of inquiry in March 2015.
President Aquino delivered a televised address on January 28. He said that the MILF should identify those who were involved in the killing of the members of the SAF, return the slain SAF members' guns and personal belongings, and allow the government to continue their operation against the terrorists. In addition, he also declared January 30 as a "National Day of Mourning", and pressed for the immediate Congressional approval of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Aquino admitted there had been a "lack of coordination" among the government forces and the MILF, that he and suspended police chief Alan Purisima personally knew of the operations, and that both Roxas and Espina were not notified of it beforehand. Furthermore, Aquino was not able to explain why these two officials were unaware of the operations. Earlier, a Manila Standard Today article claimed that Purisima not only knew of the operation, but even took control of the operations despite being suspended from duty.
A video of the killing of allegedly one of the SAF members was uploaded on YouTube, but has since been taken down from the site; those who manage to download the video are sold in DVD format in the streets of Manila. Also, the video was uploaded in social media site Facebook.
In an effort to mend relations with the villagers in the area where the clash occurred, in 2015 the government began construction of a bridge over the river by the field where the 44 policemen were killed. The bridge was named "The Bridge of Peace".
Meanwhile, when the remains of the 44 slain SAF men arrived at Villamor Air Base, President Benigno S. Aquino III was nowhere to be found as he chose to attend the inauguration of a Mitsubishi Motors Car Plant instead. His meeting with the relatives of the victims meanwhile was deemed insensitive among the members of the bereaved families.
Eight months later, on September 22, 2015, criminal charges were filed by the NBI against 90 individuals, 25 from the MILF, 12 from the BIFF, and 52 from private armed group or with unknown affiliation who involved in the clash.
A few months after the clash, Abdul Basit Usman, another target of the operation, was killed by MILF after being found hiding on a base command's camp. Initial reports said that he was betrayed by his own guards, or infighting among them.
In January 2016, retired Police Chief Superintendent Diosdado Valeroso claimed he had a recording of an exchange of words between a government official and a lawmaker as part of the evidence to be submitted in the Senate investigation on Mamasapano clash.
On the incident's first anniversary, President Aquino conferred the Medalya ng Kagitingan or the PNP Medal of Valor awards to Sr. Insp. Gednat Tabdi and PO2 Romeo Cempron, while the Medalya ng Kabayanihan or the PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal given to 42 other slain SAF troopers in the PNP's commemoration event on January 25, 2016. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front offered prayers and remembrance for the families of their casualties.
In February 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte declared January 25 of every year as the National Day of Remembrance for the SAF 44. On January 25, 2019, marking the fourth year since the clash, the families of slain soldiers gathered at the Supreme Court, seeking justice.