(A Review) Mamasapano: Now It can be Told, is the second to the last film in my list of movies to watch during this Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022 run. I intended this and My Teacher as my last-two films to watch.
Despite the attempt to cloak it as something historical–it is clear that the intention is to push further the envelope of accusing the former commander-in-chief, the late Benigno Aquino III. The movie is a vehicle to paint the image that the late Aquino III was responsible for the tragic death of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) officers on a mission during the Mamasapano clash in 2015.
Yes, those who fought and died on the battlefield, slaughtered by the enemies of the State in broad daylight–justice must be served and provide a better future for those they left behind.
The Mamasapano clash was a shootout that took place during a police operation by the SAF of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on January 25, 2015, in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, then-undivided Maguindanao (which is now Maguindanao del Sur). The operation, codenamed Oplan Exodus, was intended to capture or kill wanted Malaysian terrorists and bomb-maker Zulkifli Abdhir (also known as Marwan) and other Malaysian terrorists or high-ranking members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The operation caught the public’s attention of the relatively high number of police officers killed. Oplan Exodus was initially misattributed as Oplan Wolverine by the local media and referred to three of the other nine previous operation attempts targeting Marwan; Oplan Wolverine 1, 2, and 3 launched in December 2012, March, and May 2014, respectively, by the PNP-SAF.
The incident caused the Philippine Congress to halt the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, effectively endangering the peace process between the government and the MILF.
Key players in the operations involved Gen. Alan Purisima (Rez Cortez), Gen. Getulio Napeñas (Alan Paule), Supt. Raymond Train (Paolo Gumabao), Lt. Franco Simborio (Aljur Abrenica), Col. Ryan Pabalinas (Rey ‘PJ’ Abellana), and the lone survivor Sgt. Christopher Lalan (Gerald Santos). Other major players in the investigation of the Mamasapano Massacre were the former local government secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II (Juan Rodrigo), Erica Pabalinas (Claudine Barretto) as the wife of Col. Pabalinas, and Gen. Benjamin “Benjie” Bañez Magalong (Edu Manzano), the director of the CIDG and chairman of the PNP Board of Inquiry on the Mamasapano Incident.
Based on how the story was presented in the script, though lifted from facts, this Atty. Ferdinand Sumague Topacio-produced film attempts to put the weight of responsibility over the death of the fallen heroes to the late president Aquino III. There is no other way but that.
At the time, Aquino III is the Chief Executive and the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy. He holds the prime responsibility for the conduct of his nation. His duties carry broad powers, including the deployment of Filipino forces to commit them to military operations when he deems such action necessary to maintain security and defense. A scene where Gen. Magalong gave his thoughts about the former president’s being clueless about what to do with the Mamasapano incident.
Sadly, even if former Philippine president Aquino III is dead, a petition was filed at the Supreme Court, accusing him of being criminally accountable for negligence that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos in 2015. The solicitor general asked the court to direct the ombudsman to file 44 counts of “reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides” against the former president over the botched raid.
Is this another case of propaganda film? Only the public can decide and do their research as well.
In terms of acting, perhaps those who stood out are the characters of Manzano and Paule. Though the writer may have included the speech of Barretto‘s character, it didn’t evoke emotions, at least to me–it also wasn’t as powerful as it probably was intended to be. It wasn’t even clear when she delivered her speech.
The film may have merited the Special Jury Prize at the Gabi ng Parangal of 48th MMFF for ensemble acting, and between this and Family Matters—the latter delivered a more effective portrayal of their characters, and the moviegoers seemed to agree.
