11 GOVERNMENT TROOPS KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE
The Marchetti S-211 jet had made three successful bombing runs before dropping the wayward bomb that also hurt 7 others Troops will be augmented to control the situation but suspending the airstrikes is up to the ground commanders
Failure of communication between air and ground troops was blamed for the bungled air offensives initially staged to attack members of the Maute terror group in Marawi City that instead claimed the lives of 11 soldiers and wounded seven others.
It is very sad, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana last Thursday.
“What happened? Was there failure to communicate? The first attack was successful but the second one failed. We will find out,” he added.
Lorenzana said government forces might suspend airstrikes.
Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Lorenzana admitted that there is really a “very big” chance that state forces will be hit by government’s air attacks against lawless elements.
He said troops will just be augmented to control the situation in Marawi rather than staging more airstrikes.
“We are pouring more troops there. That’s why I said we might suspend for a while the airstrikes and let the ground troops do their thing,” he said.
The defense secretary, however, said it will still be up to ground commanders, Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista and Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., whether they will stop the airstrikes.
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that the Marchetti S-211 jet had made three successful bombing runs before dropping the wayward bomb that killed the 11 soldiers and wounded seven others.
Padilla assured that the military is well-trained to stage airstrikes against the terrorists still holed up in the capital of Lanao del Sur.
“Despite the stringent procedure followed, there happens, even with the best of armed forces, a case of friendly fire hitting our own troops,” Padilla told The Associated Press.
Lorenzana said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Eduardo Ano has ordered an investigation partly to prevent another incident.
Results of the probe will be out within three to five days.
He said that the bodies of the slain soldiers were already extracted from the scene and their families were contacted.
As fighting entered eighth day, government forces continue their assault on areas being occupied by the Islamic State-linked Maute group.
Padilla earlier said that terrorists had only infiltrated 10 percent of Marawi.
Lorenzana said that about 94 Maute members have already been killed and that only around 50 to 100 are still holed up in the city.
He was optimistic that the government troops will meet the deadline to clear Marawi of terrorists, which is today.
“No plan to move the deadline. I’m sure the troops will do their best to accomplish the deadline,” he said. /
Despite the stringent procedure followed, there happens, even with the best of armed forces, a case of friendly fire hitting our own troops. BRIG. GEN. RESTITUTO PADILLA