SAF troops spoke their minds to PNoy: Lazo

 

Source: ABS-CBNnews, Google

MANILA - Special Action Force troopers involved in the January 25 mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao finally had a chance to speak their minds to President Aquino during a 3-and-a-half-hour bull session in Camp Bagong Diwa yesterday.

Speaking to ANC, newly installed SAF director Chief Supt. Moro Virgilio Lazo said SAF troopers involved in the mission became emotional as they finally got a chance to speak their minds before their commander-in-chief.

This was a far cry from President Aquino's January 30 meeting with SAF troopers wherein the SAF stood silent despite Aquino's encouragement that they speak their minds. [SILENT: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/03/15/watch-saf-commandos-stay-silent-after-pnoy-pep-talk]
"Itong dialogue kahapon, the reason why it took so long talagang nakapagsalita sila. Nasabi nila ang gusto nilang sabihin," Lazo said.

He added: "Napag-usapan, of course. Some of them got emotional. They saw their comrades die in front of them pero kasama naman po paglalabas naman ng sama ng loob. Nakaka-relieve. Tayo ay umiiyak para lumabas ang sama ng loob."

Aquino spoke with the SAF troops, along with the entire PNP-SAF Command and the rest of the PNP leadership, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sources said the discussions on the Jan. 25 operation were still emotional because some of them felt SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, their former commander, should not have been relieved and made responsible for what happened.

Aquino witnessed the assumption ceremony for the new SAF commander who replaced Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño. Taliño served as commander in an acting capacity after the relief of Napeñas.

Aquino no longer delivered a speech during the assumption ceremony.

A total of 44 SAF troopers were killed in the Mamasapano mission that targeted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation after it was learned that President Aquino coordinated with then suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima about the mission. A Senate inquiry also revealed that the SAF failed to coordinate the mission beforehand with elements of the Armed Forces.

In the interview, Lazo confirmed that the meeting with the President was "no holds barred" and that Aquino encouraged the men to say anything they wanted to say.
"The reason why it took so long...very comprehensive yung meeting," he said.

He said the President spoke about the benefits to uplift the morale and welfare of the troops. Also tackled during the meeting were promotions, awards and the medical benefits of the SAF troops.
Sources of the Philippine Star said the President explained to SAF troopers the context of his text messages with suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

He told the SAF troops that he took the text messages from Purisima as facts, having known and been familiar with the former PNP chief.

The President also denied he issued any order for them to stand down during the clash, the sources added.

WHAT NAPENAS TOLD LAZO
Lazo said that before he took over the SAF, he first texted Napenas about his appointment. He said Napenas congratulated him and said: "May the force be with you."
Lazo was serving as the chief of the PNP's Firearms and Explosives Office prior to his appointment as SAF commander.

He is from the Philippine Military Academy Maharlika Class 1984.
Lazo confirmed he has "big shoes to fill" after Napenas but is comforted by the fact that he also served as a member of the SAF from 1984 to 1989 and 2010 to 2013.

He also said becoming SAF commander was just "wishful thinking" when he joined the unit in 1984, not knowing that he will eventually lead the specialized unit.
He said that when he joined the Special Action Team in 1984, there were 13 from his class to join the unit.

He also denied that his main goal as SAF commander is to unite the unit, saying that the SAF remains united despite some small differences.

"The most important resource is the men so we really have to equip and train some more our men so we can do our mission," he said.

Lazo, who is turning 54 this year, is set to reach mandatory retirement in two years. With a report from The Philippine Star