At the continuation of the Senate inquiry on Thursday, Santiago lambasted Napeñas for citing "intervening factors" in the failed anti-terror operation that left 44 SAF commandos dead.
Upon questioning, Napeñas said that according to the mission plan, the assault force was supposed to reach the target at 2:30 a.m. but "there were intervening factors that happened along the way."
"That means you're a failure, you're incompetent, because you cite intervening factors. When you make a plan, there should be no such factors. The plan should proceed very smoothly, if not perfectly," the senator told Napeñas.
"'The currents were very strong, the terrain was worse than we thought.' Ang dami niyong rason dun. Eh kayo ang nagpaplano eh."
She said the problem with Napeñas is that he is assuming full responsibility for the operation. "I doubt very much your statement that you were in full control of that operation."
According to Santiago, what happened in Mamasapano should not be called an encounter but a massacre, saying the SAF troopers "literally walked into a trap" with their escape routes fully covered by enemy forces.
"That is why we call this a massacre, not an encounter," she said, adding that there was "direct and brutal" violation of the conventions of war on the part of the Muslim rebels.
The senator was pertaining to a video showing an unidentified man shooting twice a SAF trooper who was injured and no longer able to fight back.
"Kayabang-yabang na tao, in-upload pa niya sa Youtube, dahil parang trophy of war niya yan eh. Ganun ang klaseng kalaban meron tayo," she said.
ANC, February 12, 2015
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
