Global InformationMamasapano clash information
| Mamasapano clash | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Moro conflict and the War on Terror | |||||||
 Map of Mamasapano, Maguindanao | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
 Federal Bureau of Investigation (allegedly) |
 Jemaah Islamiyah–linked militants Moro Islamic Liberation Front[5] Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom FightersPrivate militias (allegedly)[6] | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Benigno Aquino III Paquito Ochoa Jr.[7][8][9] Alan Purisima[8][9] Getulio Napeñas Rustico O. Guerrero Edmundo Pangilinan |
Zulkifli Abdhir † Abdul Basit Usman Amin Bacu[10] Ustadz Zacaria Guma[11] Ameril Umbra Kato[12] Bahnarin Ampatuan (allegedly)[13] | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
SAF: 9 units[14]
|
2 bomb experts 108 and 105 Base Command[15] BIFF 1st Brigade[1] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
392[16][14]
| Undetermined | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
SAF: 44 total[14]
|
Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan as confirmed by the FBI MILF and BIFF: 18 (MILF claim) | ||||||
|
Civilian casualties at least 1 killed and 1 injured[17] (media report) at least 7 killed and 3 injured[18] (Suara Bangsamoro claim) | |||||||
| Operation Exodus Oplan Exodus[9][19][20] | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Moro conflict | |
| Location | Maguindanao, Philippines |
| Planned | As early as 2014[21] |
| Planned by | Alan Purisima and Getulio Napeñas of the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force[9][19] Federal Bureau of Investigation (allegedly) |
| Target | Four nipa huts were searched to arrest Zulkifli Abdhir and Abdul Basit Usman |
| Date | 03:00[9] – (PST) |
| Executed by | Philippine National Police – Special Action Force United States Army Special Forces (allegedly) Federal Bureau of Investigation (allegedly) |
| Outcome | Zulkifli Abdhir killed |
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, 18 from the MILF and the BIFF, five civilians, and the death of Zulkifli Abdhir confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the PNP at 6:30 p.m. on February 4, 2015, through a matching DNA result. Zulkifli Abdhir was one of FBI's most wanted terrorists. Getulio Napeñas, the relieved SAF commander, estimates about 250 deaths from his assumption that each SAF sniper may have taken down at least 20 opponents from the combined MILF, BIFF, and private militias during the encounter although this was not confirmed and was met with skepticism; aside from the fact that there was no body count, there is no acceptable level of evidence to prove his claim.[22][23][24] Napenas' estimate was also debunked by the MILF and by the local government of Mamasapano.[25][26][27]
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.[28][29]
The operation caught the attention of the public for the relatively high number of police officers killed. 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,[20][30] 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.
- ^ a b "PNP: Elite cops killed in Maguindanao clashes". Rappler. January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ Carvajal, Nancy (January 30, 2016). "US aided SAF raiders only". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ "American soldier died with SAF 44? US embassy denies report". Rappler. February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
text messagewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "MILF told: Explain SAF attack". The Philippine Star. January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ Manlupig, Karlos (January 29, 2015). "Mamasapano: Sleepy town roused by SAF-MILF clash". Rappler. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^ Kabataan Partylist. "Palace execs should be held accountable for Mamasapano bloodbath". Kabataan Partylist. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Herrera, Christine; Tuyay, Francisco; Araja, Rio (January 28, 2015). "Purisima planned it all". Manila Standard Today. Manila. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f de la Cruz, Arlyn (January 29, 2015). "SAF chief: I am responsible". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ "FULL REPORT: PNP Board of Inquiry report on Mamasapano encounter". GMA News. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
familywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
biffkatowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
ampatuanmamasapanowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Magalong, Benjamin. "Presentation of the Board of Inquiry during the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano incident, February 9, 2015". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ Tuyay, Francisco; Pañares, Joyce Pangco (January 27, 2015). "Palace okayed SAF raid". Manila Standard Today. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ De Jesus, Julianne Love (January 27, 2015). "PNP-SAF chief sacked following Maguindanao 'misencounter'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
civilian2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
civilian1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c "Timeline of Oplan Wolverine: The attack vs Marwan". ABS-CBN News. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^ a b Mendez, Christina (February 10, 2015). "10 operations hatched by PNP vs Marwan". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ Cupin, Bea (February 9, 2015). "Aquino, Purisima were at final 'Oplan Exodus' briefing". Rappler. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ "Trillanes: SAF men didn't kill 250 Moro fighters". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ Legaspi, Amita (February 9, 2015). "250 MILF, BIFF dead in Mamasapano clash —Napeñas". GMA News. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- ^ "Mamasapano Mayor Disputes Napenas Claim On Milf Casualties". Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "MILF exec counters Napeñas' claim of 250 rebels killed in Mamasapano clash". GMA News. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "MILF, BIFF debunk Napeñas claim SAF men killed 250 rebels". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "Mamasapano mayor disputes Napenas' claim on MILF casualties". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "AFP chief honors soldiers who rescue SAF in Mamasapano debacle". Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ Yap, DJ. "Rescue of SAF troops losing hope recounted". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ "Suspended Purisima updated PNoy on Oplan Exodus". ABS-CBN News. February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.