The Aftermath: Manila Peninsula Siege – November 29, 2007

The following is a review of the tactical situation that emerged in the recently concluded Manila Peninsula Siege. Credits to the photos belong to Airsofter SilentX, a member of Filairsoft and a hotel cook who was physically there as the events unfolded.

Photos courtesy of SilentX. Above shows Magdalo soldier guarding the mezzanine area overlooking the hotel lobby. Below shows the SAF Armored Personnel Carrier moving into position prior to the assault.

In the recently concluded November 29 Siege of the Manila Peninsula, wherein rebel Magdalo soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes and Gen. Danny Lim took control over the hotel and called for a withdrawal of support from the Philippine Government, one thing remains clear. Had there been a fire-fight, the Special Action Forces of the Philippine National Police would have faced a tough and costly battle.

The two Magdalo officers, who were being tried in a Makati Regional Trial Court for a previous case of rebellion, had walked out and proceeded to the hotel several blocks away. Although they were escorted by their MP guards, the senator and general were joined by armed Magdalo soldiers on the way.

The subsequent events were fully covered by various local and foreign media, several of which were also arrested and detained for a few hours after the incident for questioning.

Regardless of the outcome, one thing could be said. If the siege had not ended peacefully, a bloody encounter would have ensued.

Media personalities have repeatedly branded the police actions as being overkill. But a review of media tapes would reveal a glaring tactical threat that would have exposed any assaulting officer entering the lobby of the Manila Peninsula.

The hotel has a mezzanine area that overlooks the lobby and the front entrance. Large windows and doors are also part of the design that combine to create an aesthetically pleasing area that is also a deathtrap to any assault force.

Two Magdalo soldiers were always seen standing in the mezzanine area holding assault rifles. Had there been a shooting encounter, these soldiers could immediately drop down behind the concrete balusters and snipe at the approaching SAF with impunity through the windows and door.

Any tactically-sound commander would immediately adopt the APC charge strategy, which creates a dynamic entry assault for the police force while at the same time creating a moving solid cover to protect the men from sniper fire from above.

The APC charge helped negate the higher ground advantage held by the Magdalo soldiers, as well as prevented them from employing the windows and doors as killzones. Despite the damage to property, the APC helped protect something more valuable – the life of the assaulting police force.

The tear gas move is also a standard-by-the-book strategy to help flush out entrenched troops and force either an encounter or surrender. The gas would also prevent any determined resistance to the assault had it transformed into a shooting incident.

Another SOP during terrorist-hostage scenarios is for the police to gather everyone, hold them in the prone position, conduct a quick body search and then handcuff them while leading them to a holding area. The reason for this is to ensure that the real perpetrators would not be able to slip away immediately simply by posing as a hostage – or in this case, a media practitioner.

This last had most of the media up in arms screaming foul. But while they fail to realize is that most police around the world will do exactly the same thing in order to counteract the confusion and chaos that comes part and parcel with such an operation. Case in point, when the GIGN stormed a terrorist-held plane in Marseilles, all of the passengers that were rescued had to be initially handcuffed, questioned and identified before being released. A quick review of other police actions around the world would reveal the same thing.

As a former media reporter myself, I abhor police violence and intimidation tactics on the media. But in this case, I tip my hat to the police – for sticking to their training to ensure that everyone involved emerged safe and relatively unharmed.

Lastly, I also give a salute to the brave PNP officers who were ready to lay down their lives and storm a hotel fortified by trained, veteran soldiers. We are also thankful that the principled soldiers who were with Sen. Trillanes had not opened fire on their brothers-in-arms. It would have truly been a sad day for the uniformed services had that happened.

A lot of lives could have been lost, on both sides. But in the end, let us at least be thankful that the only thing that was destroyed was a few items of property, which can always be replaced.

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