Army chief sacks Basilan task force commander

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz has relieved the commander of the Special Operations Task Force Basilan of his post in the aftermath of last Tuesday's bloody fighting with Muslim rebels that left 19 Special Forces soldiers dead. "FYI (for your information), I have ordered this evening the relief of Col. Alexander Macario as commander, SOTF Basilan and be replaced by Col. Ramon Yogyog effective 21 October after further inquiry shows operational lapses on his part," said Ortiz in a text message to reporters on Friday night. Macario is the second field commander to be stripped of his post in the aftermath of the Basilan clashes. A day after the incident, the commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, Lt. Col. Leo Pena, was sacked. He was replaced by Lt. Col. Jose Laplap. Ortiz did not elaborate on Macario’s alleged lapses. The military is conducting a probe on the fighting. — ELR, GMA News