Fil-Am group demands US accountability for Mamasapano clash

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Truth and accountability from President Barack Obama — these are the demands of the leaders of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON.

On March 25, the group sent President Obama an open letter.

They say they are outraged and disappointed, but committed to right a wrong done to their homeland by the United States.

They say Operation Exodus in Mamasapano, which aimed to arrest suspected terrorists on the FBI’s most wanted list, clearly involved American soldiers and equipment like drones, based on official Philippine Senate reports.

But NAFCON says the US Embassy’s earlier denial of any US involvement makes them question the integrity of US representatives in the Philippines.

But what alarms them even more is the US government’s silence and inaction.

NAFCON demands Pres. Obama:

• investigate US involvement in Operation Exodus
• accept accountability for the United States’ part in the deaths at Mamasapano
• stop using tax dollars to conduct counter-terrorism operations that lead to deaths
• stop violating the sovereignty of the Philippines

In the Philippines, truth and accountability are also being sought by some Philippine lawmakers.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s report on the incident shows that the group did not know that terrorists Marwan and Basit Usman lived near their communities.

Some senators, including Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, expressed disbelief.

“Did they mean to say they had no knowledge of who were in the perimeters of their own land?” Defensor-Santiago asked. “That’s an incredible claim.”

NAFCON members also plan to follow up on their open letter to President Obama by visiting elected representatives all over the country. They say they want to make sure the government takes responsibility for its actions in the Mamasapano incident.

You can contact Henni Espinosa at henni_espinosa@abs-cbn.com for more information.

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