AFP relieves two Marine officers over Basilan clash

Ronron
July 19, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leadership has ordered the relief of two Marine officers over the deadly clash last July 10 in Basilan province to give way for a smooth investigation about the incident.

Philippine Navy spokesman Commander Giovani Carlo Bacordo on Thursday identified the two as Lt. Col. Felix Almadrones and Major Nestor Marcelino, commanding officer and operations officer, respectively, of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 8.

“It is a standard operating procedure (SOP) in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that you are relieved during the conduct of an investigation so you can’t make undue influence over the result of the investigation,” Bacordo explained.

Almadrones and Marcelino led the Marine troopers that were ambushed and later fought against the attackers, believed to be combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and local bandits, in Al-Barkah, Basilan last July 10.

The nine-hour encounter resulted in the death of 14 Marine soldiers, 10 of whom were mutilated, and the wounding of nine others. The MILF, which claimed solely the clash, said four of its fighters were also killed and seven others were wounded.

Bacordo said the investigation will look into possible lapses by Almadrones and Marcelino in leading their men, as well as other circumstances during the firefight, the results of which are expected to help the military improve its operation capabilities in the future.

The Marine soldiers had just finished checking reports about the presence of abducted Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi in Al-Barkah when they were engaged by the armed Moslem fighters.

Bacordo said the two relieved officers will be recalled to the Marine headquarters in Manila after formal turn-over ceremonies are made at the MBLT 8 base in Isabela City, Basilan.

Bacordo said Almadrones will be replaced by Lt. Col. Elmer Estilles, the deputy chief of the Navy’s Plans and Programs Office, while Maj. Adolfo Albalate, who is assigned with the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) at Camp Aguinaldo, will take over Marcelino’s post.

Bacordo said the relief order will take effect upon the formal turn over rites, the schedule of which is not yet fixed. But he said Estilles was also bound for Zamboanga City on Thursday, on the way to Basilan.

Bacordo said they do not expect the two relieved officers to feel bad about the relief because all soldiers knew about the SOP.

“This is not a punishment. They are not being sacked,” Bacordo said.

Aside from the AFP, the Philippine National Police and the MILF are also investigating the July 10 incident./DMS