Tipo-Tipo Debacle: Mortars were duds, warnings ignored

Muslim insurgents beheaded 10 Philippine Marines


Senator Antonio Trillanes IV wants a deeper probe on Philippine Marines’ debacle in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan Island. Some 81 mm mortars were duds (palso-boguk-palpak). Favored suppliers may have delivered fake, old stock, low quality and sub-standard ammunition. In 2003 Oakwood incident, Magdalo soldiers complained about anomalous AFP procurement dealings. Corruption in the AFP is deeply embedded. The lost of lives in Tipo-Tipo debacle could be prevented. Low quality ammunitions and other military hardware can be partly blamed for the debacle. It’s not right to send troops in the battlefield with unreliable guns and ammunitions. Heads must roll (chopped) for the Tipo-Tipo fiasco.

According to Luwaran website, MILF forces captured six M-60 machineguns, eight M-203 grenade launchers, ten M-16 rifles, one 60 mm mortar, several night vision goggles and destroyed two 6×6 military vehicles.
How about failure of intelligence?

AFP explains malfunctioning arms
Corruption troubles Philippine Military
Eyewitness account: Seven hours of hell in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan