*Author-in-Residence & Senior Fellow, International Centre for Political Violence & Terrorism Research, RSIS

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino faced a dilemma last week after the deaths of 19 soldiers in Al-Barka, Basilan. Despite the public outcry and mourning, he resisted numerous calls to declare war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and break a ceasefire that’s been in place since 2008. Instead, he decided to hold the military accountable. He also chose not to tell the public about the numerous mistakes that led to the tragic deaths.

Results of a classified military investigation paint a picture of incompetence that seems hard to believe.  There are conflicting statements from military officers regarding the purpose of the mission: a high-ranking officer said the troops were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest against the Abu Sayyaf’s Long Malat Solaiman. Army spokesmen, however, publicly stated their goal was to serve a warrant of arrest against the MILF’s Commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who was involved in the beheadings of soldiers in 2007.  However, these statements do not explain why soldiers are doing a police function.

According to a classified report, details of which were confirmed by military officers familiar with the investigation, the battle between the military and the Abu Sayyaf began less than two kilometers away from a designated safe zone called the Area of Temporary Stay (ATS) of the MILF’s 114th Base Command. The battle lasted 10 hours and moved 4.3 kilometers away from the ATS, disproving the MILF’s claims that soldiers violated the ceasefire rules.

In the first two hours, the report said the troops “were in control of the situation” until reinforcements from “the MILF ATS, MNLF community and ASG stronghold” arrived on motorcycles.

It deteriorated rapidly from that point on because of several fatal mistakes: